I've been updating my other story, Dodging Love Bullets. So thats why i ain't been around on this story and the Secrets and Skeletons one. :)
Skulduggery had been avoiding Valkyrie. And she had been avoiding him.
They still spoke of course, But they avoided eachother. Valkyrie knew she shouldn't of been surprised, Skulduggery probably still thought of her as a child. Not a woman. That did hurt her, But she was ready to accept it. If that was how Skulduggery felt for her, It was either that or nothing. And Valkyrie didn't mind.
She got up off Tanith and Ghastly's bed, Picking up her jacket as she did so. Today she was in tight black leather and a low cut tunic. Her boots were polished and a dark purple gem hung on a chain around her neck. Her hair was loosly plated to one side of her face and black studs were placed in her ears. She looked over at Tanith, Who was spinning round on the swivel chair. "What would you do?"
Tanith stopped spinning like she had the brakes of a car. "For what?"
"If you got...Rejected."
There was a pause before Tanith awnsered. "Why you ask?"
"Tell me" Valkyrie sighed.
"What happened?"
"Its just a-"
"Was it Skulduggery?" She asked and Valkyrie turned away. "It was wasn't it? Well, All i can say is you wern't rejected."
"You don't know that." Valkyrie snarled, Turning to look at her out of the corner of her eye. "I had almost kissed him and then Avious came and-"
"Avious? Why did he come? How did he know where we were staying?"
"He followed us and he was looking for trouble."
"And that means Skulduggery didn't reject you."
"How?"
"Well, Did he push you away?"
"No but he gave me a weird look..."
"He didn't reject you."
Valkyrie folded her arms. "He didn't stop me when i walked out of the room."
"He never does, He lets you have your own space to think over. He won't chase after you because he knows you always come running back."
"No i don't"
"Yes you do"
"No i don't!"
"Yes you do, Valkyrie" Came Ghastly's voice as he walked into the room. A sly smile on his face.
"You don't even know what we are on about, So stay out of this conversation." Valkyrie grumbled at him.
"Yes i do, I was listening in outside." He grinned and Valkyrie sent a lethal glare. "What? I pick up Skulduggery's skills, Do i not?"
"Yes you do." Valkyrie said. "And if a boy wanted me to do what i had almost done, Then he would've chased after me."
"You don't know Skulduggery, Then" Ghastly grinned.
xXx
Valkyrie leaned on the door of Tanith and Ghastly's room. She had spent half an hour getting mashed up by their words, Skulduggery had rejected her in her opinion. So it was tough if they saw it diffrently. Even if she was starting to see their point in the argument.
She stood up strait and slipped her jacket on before she hesitantly opened the door to Skulduggery and her room. She closed the door with a faint click and turned to Skulduggery, Who was Sprawled out on the bed, Cigarette in his hand and smoke filling the air around him. His eyes, Fixed on the fishes swimming above him and the light from the open curtain dancing with the colour of his hair, Making it glitter.
"We're going to meet a friend of mine" He said, His voice dangerously low. "In the woods, He has a little thing set up for Avious. If the bastard falls for the bait, We got him." He said and took another drag.
"Whats the bait?" She asked, Slipping her hands into her pockets.
"You." He said plainly.
"Why me?"
"He knows its the best way to hurt me. So if he sees you wandering about the forest alone, Well. Ya'know"
"He'll.."
"He'll try, But me and the friend will beat him senseless. Don't worry."
"If you say so.."
"Don't you trust me no more?" He hissed through his teeth, The smooky air swirling at the disturbance.
"I didn't say that" She growled, Her hands clenching into fists.
"It piggen' Well sounded like you did"
"Shut up being so grumpy or i won't be comming with you"
Skulduggery just rolled his eyes at her words, Taking another dash of the ciggerette.
"Are you going to take your time to meet this friend of yours?"
He didn't speek again and Valkyrie sighed. Throwing her back against the wall angrily and crossing her arms over her chest. Her eyes fixed a angry glare on the wall and she didn't speek as Skulduggery slowly got up off the bed. Picking up his gun in the process. He walked up to her, Leaning down so his face was inches from hers. She could smell the smoke from his breath as he breathed and the gunpowder that leaked from his clothes aswell as the deodrant.
"I don't tolerate people who think they can throw me about like a child." He hissed, Straitening his back as he opened the door, Letting Valkyrie follow him with a lethal glare on his back.
xXx
"So this is your partner?" Said a voice.
Valkyrie whirled around to the young man, He looked to be around Ravel's age with black curly hair that was hanging around his face, A peice of brown leather covered his right eye and part of his cheek. He had cold dark navy blue eyes and a scar was flicked across his cheek. A brown cowboy hat was pulled low over his eyes and a brown worn leather 3/4 length cowboy jacket hung on his collar of his white shirt hung widely open and a sharks tooth hung on a chain around his neck. A thick belt crossed his waist holding up his denim trousers, That were mostly covered by brown leather that was placed into the design. He was wearing brown boots and had a cigarette and a book his his black figerless gloved hand. Valkyrie could tell, Even by the sight of him, That he was a Vampire Hunter. Yet, He was joining them to hunt down a criminal.
"Why did you have to call me out here? I've got a job to do ya'know."
"Its not like you to hate a job, Logan."
"Come on. I ain't even said hello to your girlfriend yet" He grumbled and suddenly his book flew up as he walked, Skulduggery's dagger pin pointing the middle of it. "I've already lost one eye, Boy. Don't make me loose another," He muttered and a smile played across his lips as he brought the book down.
"Miss Cain, I'm Logan Yagari. Pleased to meet you, Little girl"
Valkyrie smiled and shook his outstreched hand.
"I'm surprised," Yagari said. "The rummours of you two say that you always bicker, But not a word is being spoken" He said. Taking out a riffle from his coat.
"That we do." Valkyrie said. "But much more hurtful things are being said at the moment."
Yagari grinned as he loaded his gun. "So thats why he threw that knife at me."
"Yes thats why" Came Skulduggery's voice. "So why don't you get off the subject."
"You're alot more sensitive than i remember."
"Do you want me to kick your sorry ass to China?" He snapped.
"No, I preffer Australia."
"Your no friend."
"Look who's talkin'."
Valkyrie snorted in laughter and Yagari looked at her, Arching a eyebrow. "Don't worry, I could say i was agreeing with you, But i would probably get murdered."
He laughed. "Yes you probably would. He's a little touchy in'e?"
"Yes he is"
They nodded in their agreement but footsteps snapped them out of their conversation. "Get a move on. I'm sick of waiting around for you two" Came Skulduggery's mumble.
"You always were" Valkyrie snapped and Skulduggery stopped, Looking over his shoulder at her.
"Then don't expect me to save you from a Vampire or Assasin on your blinking tail"
"Did you?"
"Yes i did."
"Then what about when i launched myself off the pier? What about when Dusk bit me? What about when Mechilonia tore me to shreads? Aye? Explain that."
"What about when you were hanging off a Skyscraper? What about when i had to look after you through the 'hard times'? Was your boyfriend there? Actually. Refrase that. Was you pet boyfriend and boyfriend there? Did Calaen flatter you with comments? Or did he attempt to kill you?"
"Yeah he did, Actually. But you wouldn't know because you were to buisy sulking." And once she had said that, She regreted it. She could see the hurt in his eyes.
"You have turned into one cow. To be honest, I don't see why i'm going to save you from Avious anyway."
Valkyrie turned away from him, Tawards Yagari. "Can we just get this over with?"
Yagari looked her in the eye. "Well-"
"You thought you could leave us behind?" Came Ghastly's voice. Typical, Valkyrie's mind cursed.
"Good thing your here, I don't think i could put up with her for much longer." Came Skulduggery's voice as he walked off to the place were he was suposed to be, Leaving them to stare at Valkyrie.
"What did you do?" Ravel asked.
"Mucked things bloody well up, Didn't I? Lets just get this over with." She snapped.
"Again?" Fletcher asked.
She glared at him but didn't say anything.
"Right!" Yagari yelled, Clapping his hands together. "We are all going to do a bit of tree climbin'. Well, Apart from Valkyrie. She's going to be the inoccent girl walking around a forest after a argument. Which, As you can tell, Is true.-" He turned to Valkyrie. "-You're gonna put a big ol' act on of being in a strop. Again, As i have heard, You're good at that. So, When he pounces on you, You struggle, But don't worry M'Dear, We'll be here for you."
"But." Came Tanith's voice. "How do you know he is here? I mean, Right now?"
"Well...I did annoy him a little...And he chased me, Then when he found me runnin' in this direction-" He said, Pointing towards the hotel. "-I saw him giggle like a mad woman and run up a tree. So, He is probably waitin' right above my head with a chainsaw. But don't worry, I'll be okay. Even if i 'ave no head."
"So are we going to jump from tree to tree, Waiting for Avious to try and Rape Valkyrie?" Tanith fummed.
"He won't. You'll protect her, Won't you?"
"Yeah, But what if we get blasted by the fire of hell?"
"Elemental? Use air? Ring any bells Blonde?"
"I ain't a flippin' Elemental. I'm a Adept who can run up walls."
"Oh really? Thats helpful when your going up tree's, Innit? Come on. Have a little faith."
"Tell us your name," Came Fletcher's voice. "Then we'll see if we can trust you."
"Teleporter, My name is Logan Yagari. Famous Vampire Hunter and a right ass hole. That is according to your friend Skully who has disapeared somewhere."
"You idiot." Came a angry voice. Eyes shot up towards Skulduggery, Who was looming high up above them, His hands gripping the branches either side of him to keep him up there. "Stop talking and start running. I saw him far away, But he's getting closer."
"Yes sir ass hole." Yagari called, Saluting.
"Why do you keep on calling eachother ass holes?" Valkyrie asked.
"One of the best insults." He grinned and he waved everyone away. They all ran off, Taking lethal hieghts in the trees.
"Right." Yagari said to Valkyrie in a low voice. "I want you to push me away when i reach for you."
Yagari tried to pull her into a hug and she threw him away. Memories of when Valkyrie had been shot by Skulduggery came flooding back to her. She acted Just as she had done then, Looking at him like he was a horrible man. A thing. Although she never thought that way of Skulduggery, She could look at him like that. Look at anyone like it.
"Val.." Yagari said, Like he was saying sorry for something. Like he was begging her to come back.
"No." She said, Putting all the anger that had built up in her into her eyes. Making them seem darker than they were. "I'm sick of life at the moment. So just leave me alone." She snarled and stormed past him. She knew it was a simple thing to come out with, But it would have to do.
Her mind wandered as she walked through the trees. She could sense the others following her, But she didn't see them. The wind blew and her hair was brushed infront of her face, She looked in the direction towards it and saw the leaves blowing up, They blew in a wave, Surounding her as she walked. But they died down when the gust passed.
Valkyrie's eyes glittered under the suns light when she passed though it. Those little diamond rays that had broken through the branches of the trees had gotten to her, Making every feature glow as she walked. She looked around her, Noticing the small multi coloured flowers that blossomed out of the ground. The branches that wound around eachother like cobwebs and the bushes of leaves above her head that, Every so often, Would brush through her hair.
As she walked, The golden American sank a little lower into the sky and slight hints of the evening colours shone like lazors through the blue. Reds and oranges with hints of purple. It all reminded her of a little saying she was tought by her dad. Red sky in the morning, Sheperds warning. Red sky at night, Sheperds delight. She didn't see it as being a good day tomorrow with the way she had thrashed things about. In her view, She saw herself as a careless, Selfish child that didn't care about anything else than herself after the argument that had happened a few hours ago.
She knew she had torn Skulduggery's insides about. Played with his heart when she tried to kiss him. Tore out his stomache when she said he had been sulking after finding out his wife and his child had been dragged to their deaths by China Sorrows. She was surprised that he hadn't gone after the woman. But he had just left her, Not having any contact with her. But on the odd occasion, It seemed she would muster up the corage and Phone Skulduggery, Telling him there was a criminal on the loose. But she knew China had been in her younger days and wanted experience of everything. That was what she told her when they ran into eachother in town. Even then, She seemed to have brightened when she saw Valkyrie. She looked like a dull light bulb when Valkyrie saw her but when China turned, It was like she had been charged with a new battery. Because she brightened.
Valkyrie couldn't forgive her, But she couldn't hate her either. She rarely spoke to her, But she couldn't ignore her blue eyes. China would open up to Valkyrie more than she would do anyone else. Valkyrie seemed to have become a well trusted friend of hers, But it had been torn down by her selfish acts as a child.
Valkyrie snapped herself out of her thoughts and shuddered. She didn't want to unearth memories that she wanted to burry. That time was when she had found out China's secret and Skulduggery's past. She had forgiven him for that. But she couldn'r forgive China. Skulduggery had gone insane. Forgeting who he was and all of his memories. China had done something knowingly. She had become a criminal and gone out on a killing spree. Enjoying all the while.
She looked about her, Still senseing the small movements in the tree's above her. She noticed a willow tree and leaned against it. Her leg muscles were burning from all the walking and her mind was tired from weighing all the things in the past that had happened. She took her hair band from her whrist and tied her hair up. But as usual, Those stray, Annoying locks of hair fell across her face. Although this time she didn't mind. She just ignored them and put her hands behind her back. Continuing to stare at the forest of tree's that were before her.
There was a twig broken and Valkyrie's head snapped up. Her friends in the tree's didn't move when Avious came striding towards her. His eyes glistened calmly and for the first time, He looked like a normal guy. Well, That would be true if it wasn't for those burgundy coloured eyes. "Miss Cain. You look grumpy." He noted when he leaned against a tree opposit her. He was studying her features and Valkyrie could feel his gaze.
"I am." She said. Avoiding eye contact. "But i don't want to discuss such a thing with you."
"Oh i am sorry for interupting your...Date lets say with Skulduggery. To be quite frankly honest, I didn't think that would happen. But you are full of surprises, Arn't you?"
Valkyrie didn't answer, She just glared away from him.
"How long has that been going on for? Seriously though. Him? Did you not have a better choice? That kid that was with you. The blonde one. Ya'know the one with the spiked up hair. Why didn't you go out with him? He would've been better than a man tied up in ropes of secrecy."
"I did go out with him. But me being me, I was unfaithful."
"Oh!" He laughed. Clapping his hands. "Its all coming out now, Innt? No wonder Skulduggery is moody with you! He knows what your like. He knows that you try and get what you want, In the most horrid of ways. God he knows you to the T!"
Valkyrie glared and didn't respond. She really wanted everyone to jump out of the tree's and bring this man down. Or else she was going too.
"Has Skulduggery ever made his move on you?" He asked, Taking slow steps towards her. Her back straitened untill she was right against the tree. His hands were either side of her ribs and his face was inches from hers. "Has he? I can tell he wants to. He flurts with you all the time, But he won't make his move. He'll just flirt and see how you react. And you reacted well in his point of view. Very well infact."
"Keep away from me." She snarled.
He continued like he hadn't been interupted. "Why didn't you talk to him in that fancy Rolls Royce? Why didn't you just go and snog his face off after that little incident on the farm? Do you need a confidence boost? Eh? Or are you that desperate for a boyfriend?"
Valkyrie pushed him by his shoulders away from her and walked around him. But he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Do you want me to show you how its done?" He asked.
Valkyrie tore herself away from him. Backing away slowly as she felt the fear kick in. Her mind was on red alert and her hands were trembling. "Keep away from me." She said again.
Avious laughed and drove her against a tree. A grin spreed across his face and that grin reminded her of Sanguine. "Get off me!" She yelled and his grin grew. He held her legs with one of his and both her arms were held at the elbows against the tree.
"What are you going to do?" He asked, Leaning into her so his lips brushed hers. And that was when Valkyrie turned nasty. She spat in his face and he let go of her, Cursing and wiping his face. His anger flared at the girl who was walking away from him and he took her down. Pinning her to the floor as she screamed and kicked.
"You bitch." He spat. "You think you can do that to me?"
"Yes!" She cursed and he closed a hand on her throat.
"You're going to pay for that. So you better say goodbye to your Virginity." He snarled with a ugly grin. And that was when Skulduggery came out of the trees. He crashed into Avious and threw him down to the floor. Viciously punching him. Blood covered the leaves bellow Avious' head and the muderer threw a punch into Skulduggery's face. Forcing him to stand and stumble slightly away. The back of his hand pressed against his nose.
Avious wasn't done with him yet. He lashed a punch into Skulduggery's stomache and he fell to the floor. He kicked Skulduggery twice again in the same place and Skulduggery rolled, Trying not to let his body fold in on itself. Avious kicked Skulduggery in the face and he lay there, Only managing to keep his eyes open as the energy from the kick sent him back onto his back. He looked up at Avious with his hands either side of his head and one of his legs was bent with a foot placed firmly on the floor. The other was bent and on the floor with the foot infront of the other.
Skulduggery stared up at him breathing rough as Avious raised a boot to smack him in the face. But he was stopped by a teenager smacking into him and punching him so hard that he was flown back through the air and through a tree. The wood splitters spraying out like daggers behind him.
"You idiot." Skulduggery insulted up at her and she looked down at him.
"Shut your face will you.." She glared and clicked her fingers, The flames burning in her palms.
Avious got off the ground as Ghastly, Tanith, Ravel, Fletcher and Yagari came down from the trees. He wiped the blood from his face and glared at Skulduggery as Valkyrie helped him up. "I'll kill every last one of you" Avious snarled and a explosion of fire came like a pillar at Valkyrie. And as usual, Skulduggery grabbed her by her waist at the last second and they both landed on the floor. Skulduggery curled over her protectivly as the jet of fire curled above them.
He pulled away once it was done and small explosions like machine gun bullets peppers the ground towards them, Valkyrie forced Skulduggery off her and they rolled away from it. Some how, Valkyrie ended up ontop and she looked towards Avious who was now pre-ocupied with fighting off the 5 who were surounding them. But they were gaining on him. Valkyrie looked back down to Skulduggery, Who was looking up at her, Expecting her to get off him.
"I hate you." Skulduggery stated, Nodded and forced her off him. Sprawling up and sending twin streams of fire at Avious. It covered him completely and Skulduggery snarled when he realised Avious was blocking it by turning into stone. Ravel lashed a nasty punch into the back of Avious' head and Avious sent him spining with a blast. Ghastly and Tanith tried to get in close, But they to were sent off. It was just Fletcher, Yagari, Skulduggery and Valkyrie now. And they all were closing in.
"You think you kids can stop me?" Avious laughed and Skulduggery bagan cracking his knuckles and Valkyrie drew her gun. Aiming it at Avious.
"Yes we do" Yagari said. Adding a impossibly new low depth to his voice. Aiming his Rifle.
"Oh i have been waiting for a good fight." Valkyrie grinned.
"Bring it, Avious." Skulduggery said. Looking at him with his fists clenched by his sides.
"Well i'm going to rather enjoy thi-" Avious said. But he was interupted by loud Pwang against his head. He fell forward and face planted the floor and there was a awkward silence as everyone stared at the boy behind him with a sauce pan in his hand. Ready to thwack him again.
"What?" Fletcher asked. "Someone had to do it"
Skulduggery sighed. A pissed off expression on his face. "I was looking forward to throwing him through a couple of trees."
"So was i!" Yagari cursed. Throwing his riffle to the floor in annoyance.
"You ruined IT!" Valkyrie cursed at him.
"Just drag this son of a bitch to the Rolls Royce and get him to the Sanctuary." Fletcher sighed.
Yagari bent down and picked up Avious, Slinging him over his shoulder. "You mucked it up!" He said whilst slapping Fletcher across the face. "We were really looking forward to that!"
"Then you can beat him up when you get there!" Fletcher cursed at him. Holding his burning cheek.
"Skul.." Valkyrie said and he looked down at her. His lips were slightly parted and it made Valkyrie want to just grab his face and snog him. But she didn't. "Thankyou."
"...No problem." He nodded and Yagari turned. His elbow smacking into Fletchers jaw and spinning him uncontious on the floor.
"Will you go out already?" He asked and they glared.
Fletcher slowly got up, Unsteady on his feet. But once he was stood straight Yagari turned back again, Nocking him back to the floor.
"Uh...Logan-" Valkyrie began, Pointing at Fletcher.
"What?" He asked.
"...Fletcher."
Yagari looked down at the kid. After a moment he slowly raised a boot and slammed it down on a man's sacred part. Fletcher's eyes shot open and he howled in pain. Muttering curses under his breath. "You have probably taken away the posibility of him having kids now!" Valkyrie cursed at him and stalked towards Fletcher. She helped him up but he was still bent over.
"Thats probably a good thing." Skulduggery nodded and Valkyrie turned on him.
"How is that being good friend?"
"He would say the same to me." Skulduggery laughed and walked on beside Yagari who had Avious still slung over his shoulder.
Valkyrie watched them go, Both high shouldered. Both's dark hair blowing in the wind and glittering under the suns rays. Both carrying there weapons in their hands at ease. Both's long coats swirling around their tall frames. They seamed like brothers and they could be mistaken for that by the way she was seeing them now. Skulduggery turned back slightly, Looking at her out of the corner of her eye. "Find the others. We'll get Avious back to the Sanctuary." He said and turned back. Carrying on walking with his look-alike through the trees infront of them.
Once they had gone, Fletcher had managed to support himself and he turned to Valkyrie. "Don't you think...They're alike?"
"They are. But don't question about that." Valkyrie said. Beggining walking.
"Why not?"
"Because some people like to keep some things private. They don't want to speak about it." She said and Fletcher looked away.
"Are you in the same situation?" He asked. Avoiding eye contact with her.
"Yeah." Valkyrie said and she looked around her and saw Ravel. Immediately running to his aid. Why? Because he was so badly burned that he was unrecognisable.