Chapter Twelve

One Strong Chick

"Well, that didn't work," said Valkyrie. "In fact it failed miserably."

They were in the Bentley, driving back to Cemetery Street. "It was, as the schoolyard mongers say, an 'EPIC FAIL'. Skulduggery was evidently in the same mindset as Valkyrie in this aspect.

"Indeed."

"You do know why I went?"

"I have an idea."

"Does your idea have anything to do with research?"

"No."

"You need to do more detecting next time…"

Valkyrie sighed deeply. The car ride was silent for a long time. She focused on streetlights because there wasn't a lot else to look at. She watched them for a while.

"Valkyrie," Skulduggery said suddenly. "You tell me if you are pregnant. It might give me a second chance at fatherhood, but I'm sorry for snatching your innocence out from out under your feet."

Valkyrie stared at him. "Does it matter?"

"Yes," Skulduggery answered, remorse in his tone. "I'm a monster for that."

"No." Valkyrie leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "You're still my Skulduggery."

This girl of mine, thought Skulduggery, is one strong chick.

"Even if I am pregnant," Valkyrie continued, "it doesn't change the whole forever and ever thing."

"I get it."

"I'm glad."

They drove on in silence. Valkyrie put a hand to her abdomen and knew, just knew. She was. She was pregnant. She had a hunch.

And so Valkyrie knew.

But she didn't care.

"Skulduggery." He turned to her slightly. She tried to figure out how to put it.

"I know I'm bearing your kid, right now," she said. "I just have this odd feeling. But do you know what? I'm happy. I'm not going to die, and neither is our kid. You can have a second life, if you wish."

Skulduggery spoke softly. "I'd be most happy to have that chance."

Valkyrie smiled. They kept driving. Then Valkyrie had a thought.

"You know, I just want to keep driving." Valkyrie said.

"That's good," Skulduggery replied. "Because I'm pretty sure we're further from your house than we were when I started driving away from China's."

"Want to go to Gordon's instead?"

"Is his place close?"

"Yeah."

"OK then. You got the key?"

"No. But I know where it is."

"OK."

Skulduggery turned the Bentley onto another road. Within quarter of an hour they were at Gordon's estate.

Valkyrie got out of the car first, and walked up to the front door. She lifted up an ornamental dragon which was holding a "Welcome" sign and picked up the spare key from underneath it.

Grinning, she looked back at Skulduggery, who had locked the car and was now putting on his hat. She turned back to the door, fitted the key in the lock, and opened the door.

Valkyrie screamed.

Anathem Mire stood there, and he looked livid.