Valkyrie POV
He is here.
I think of Skulduggery.
Is Skulduggery inside that armour? A skeleton controlling the will of Lord Vile?
After the argument two weeks ago, I have been thinking. About the method of Vile and Darquesse. What would happen if I died? Would Darquesse die? Or would she save me just in time to make sure that we are immortal?
And Skulduggery's subconscious. Would it still survive? Would it float into the armour and Lord Vile, destructive Lord Vile, would be back.
I frown.
"Why aren't you attacking me, Vile?"
He cocks his head and I swear I hear a laugh. I think of the way metal melts into metal on his armour, how smooth it is. How much Vile, despite his faults, is like me.
"We are alike. Me and Skulduggery, we are the same but very different. Me and you, Vile, we both have the potential. The only difference is that I have remained strong against it and you have given in to the chaos and fun of killing."
I look at him. He looks at me.
"Don't you ever wonder why killing is fun? It's fun to be able to crush someone's whole body with one swipe of your hands, to spend shadows through someone's heart and swipe their lungs. But why? It's illegal. And it is wrong. Shouldn't forget that it is wrong. People have died for less."
I chuckle.
"That's what my dad says. People have died for less. That's true. We know that's true. We have killed people for merely looking at us. You as you are now and me as my alter-ego."
I decide to do it and step forward. "Vile..." I take another step. He doesn't move. I kiss him. The metal is cold. He flips the visor up and I see his skull.
"Valkyrie." It's a very strong Irish accent, deep and velvety.
"Vile?"
"Yes."
He kisses me back.
Fireworks.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.