ReaderMagnifique, I like your suggestion. I've used some, And changed alot. So this chapter goes to you, My friend. :)
And i'm going to update BlackThorn next, Just so you know!
Valkyrie's back shifted on the tree that held her up. Supporting her weight. She could see the hotel from here. She could see New York. The hill was high, But she'd climbed it. She needed peace. She needed to get away from everything. She needed to breath fresh air and let the American sun dry away her tears. She let her mind wander, She set it free. She let her imagination riddle her, Tainting her mood. Showing her what she really wanted. She didn't pay attention to the world around her. The one inside her head, Was more interesting.
If i had a world of my own, Everything would be nonsense.
Nothing would be what it is, Because everything, Would be what it isn't.
The lyrics of the song replayed in her head. The imaginary beings in her mind changed, Turning into things that hurt the people that had hurt her. Her mind was lashing out, Tearing things appart. Using her magic as another source of distruction. But she didn't move. She let her mind release the anger. Her eyes, Just fixed on the view infront of her. She was disaplining herself. Teaching her mind what emotions she should show, And ones she shouldn't.
Her expression was calm, Not allowing the anger, Betrayal or the violence to show. She couldn't afford it. She was stronger than they thought. Than he thought. Her inoccent days were gone, And now she had to look after her own back. She had to reinforce the layers of deffences around her heart. She was going to fight to the end, Make the men around her livid with anger because they couldn't grab someone of her worth. She wasn't going to let Skulduggery win. She wouldn't let something like childish spite from a 421 year old. All he was after was sex, And once he was done, He would throw her away like a broken toy.
Was that really what he was trying to do? Should she ask? Should she bother? Should she even look at him? The questions piled up in her head before they stopped having a meaning. She had cried and sobbed and acted pathetic back in the hotel. She had let her emotions out then. She didn't need to act anymore now. She didn't even need to act out revenge. It would all come around. She'd tried with Skulduggery, And he had pushed her away. It was his fault. Not hers.
Her phone rang in her pocket, And Valkyrie took it out. Tanith.
"Hey," Valkyrie said. All anger gone from her voice. "Whats up?"
"Don't play inoccent." Tanith said sternly. "Fletcher forced it out of Skulduggery's throat. We know what happened. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine! I'm just sat up on a hill. Thats all."
"Which one? I want to come and have a chat with you. Is that okay?"
"Its fine! You can see the hill from outside the hotel. I'm sat by the big Willow tree. You won't be able to miss it."
"Okay, I'll be there in five."
xXx
Tanith loved sprinting. She loved feeling the surge of power in her legs. She loved the way they took off into a run that made her feel like she was running at the speed of a Cheetah. With the grace of a cat. The muscles in her legs moved like the gears and wheels of a car, Her boots kicking up leaves and mud that layed in the way like they were horses hoves. Taking down everything in her way like a sword. The leather clung tight, The flaps of the coat beat against the back of her upper thighs. And she took to the hill. Gaining speed and spotting her friend.
She reached the tree, But instead of stopping, She ran up it and jumped. Flipping her body in mid air twisting as she fell. Landing in a crouch. She looked at Valkyrie who grinned at her. "You're a little too cheerful after what just happened."
She shrugged. "I've put it behind me. I don't want to let things like his childish acts get in the way of what i want."
"I know. But whats going to happen to your relationship? Whats going to happen now between you two-"
"Nothing." Valkyrie said. "We'll avoid each other. And only when we feel ready to, We'll talk."
"Won't you miss him? He won't be the same, Gentle Skulduggery that you usually know."
"He treated me like a baby," Valkyrie said, Fixing her gaze on the view infront of her. "He's always been cold. He just had a soft spot for me though. I'm tougher than i look. Fight now, Cry later."
"Your a liar." Tanith said. "I bet you broke down and your torn up. But you are putting on a brave face because you don't want to look back on it."
"Of course i did." Valkyrie said. "Any girl would. I trusted him, And he did that to me. But i deserved it. I've toyed with him, And he lashed out. I couldn't blame him, Either."
"Well...I see your point. But won't you react to him aswell?"
"No. I won't. I didn't want to damage the relationship between us, And i don't want to destroy it anymore."
"So your just going to let him get away with it?"
"Yes." She said. "If Ghastly did it to you, Wouldn't you want things to go back to the way they were?"
There was a pause, But She finally answered. "Yes."
xXx
Skulduggery rubbed the back of his neck as Ravel and Ghastly continued yelling at him. He couldn't be bothered to listen. They were going on about what he had done to Valkyrie. What the consiquences were. But to be honest, He wanted to let Valkyrie decide. He could take the insults and the slaps she threw at him. He didn't mind. He didn't mind if she would reject him, Run away to the far ends of the earth to get away from him. He was far to dangerous for a inoccent girl like her. He had let her see the cold side of him that he had wanted to protect her from, But if she couldn't accept that, Then she couldn't accept who he was.
"Are you even listening, Skulduggery?" Ghastly roared. "Do you even care?"
"I care." Skulduggery said, His voice as smooth and calm as ever. "But its her choice. I don't want a say."
"Skuldugger-" Came Ravel's voice. But he didn't listen. Ravel was still covered in scrapes and scars, But he wasn't going to be held down now.
"There is no point in giving me a lecture when you already know my answer." He said sternly. Standing up and leaving the room. He couldn't be bothered with this. He was avoiding remembering it. He didn't want to think of how he threw her emotions everywhere. He couldn't. He looked behind him breifly, So spot Ravel and Ghastly storming after him, Growling curses and threats. Not like he cared anyway. They were trying to disapline him, To keep him in line. But that never usually happened. He was Skulduggery Pleasant after all.
He took long strides through the corridors, But when he rounded the corner to the stairs, His body collided with another and they stumbled. "Skul-Woah!" Valkyrie's voice squeeled, And Skulduggery's thoughts jammed in his mind. Started bumping into each other and screaming. But there was one that stood out from the rest. One that shone like the evening stars against the black night.
Protect her.
Valkyrie lost her footing and fell and Skulduggery reached out to grab her. But the force of the fall took him with her. They rolled and something crashed to the ground, But Skulduggery protected her from the cold floors. Using his own body as a cushion. She landed ontop of him and he cried out, Feeling her weight come down on his stomach. His body wanted to curl up, But his mind forced him to stay where he was. There was a throbbing on the right side of his face, But he was more worried about Valkyrie.
"Are you okay?" He asked, Gently lifting her off him. But his left shoulder was numb, And it wouldn't move. He poked it and the numbness was still there. Then he punched it and cried out. Ravel, Ghastly and Tanith hurtling around the corner. Valkyrie coughed slightly on his body, Her body still in shock and not allowing her to move. "Valkyrie, Are you okay?" He repeated and she groaned. "That answer is a awful lot of help, You know."
"What the hell happened?" Tanith asked. Crouching down next to them.
"Fell down the stairs," Skulduggery muttered, Ravel and Ghastly joining her.
Valkyrie gripped hold of his thighs, Using them to pull her into a sitting position. "I'm...Sorry." She panted.
"I got what i deserved." He said. Whincing at his shoulder as he gripped it to hard. Damn dislocations.
"What-"
"You...Know what i mean, Valkyrie."
The silence that filled the space between them was painful. And the hurt in Skulduggery's eyes was enough to make anyone hug him. But Valkyrie knew she couldn't. She didn't know what boundries he had put up. "But-"
"Go and get yourself checked up Valkyrie, I'll be fine."
She continued to stare at him, But Tanith hauled her up with Ghastly's help. They dragged her away, But Ravel stayed with Skuldugery. The scared face of a once beutiful man with beautiful eyes fixed on him. "Well done for patching things up." Ravel said.
"Was that sarcasm?"
"No. That was stating the obvious." He nodded. "Like the fact you've got part of a china pot stuck in your head."
Skulduggery growled.
Was that okay? Does it need a little tweeking?