Sorry for not updating all my stories lately. Its been personal issues and just messy with all the stories I have in progress. Forgive me XD

I was hiding under the table, my Necromancer ring somewhere under a couch probably.
Rain was crashing in from the smashed window at the front of the house. Skulduggery was somewhere here too.

It had been Yanner. The sneaky devil sent a henchman in.
I guess I really miss judged him in our first meeting.

I should be fighting you say?
Well, I bloody can't when I can't use magic and its hard to see and breath. The henchman had thrown in a small hand grenade through the window. Dust clouded the air, stung my eyes, made it hard to breath. I think I had something broken.

But yeah, I'm under the table for good reason trust me. Who knows what else he's got up his sleeve when I'm defenceless.

Ringing blared in my ears as I crawled out from under a fine dust, underneath the table. I skirted around into the kitchen, locking the door behind me. Relaxing, I sighed a breath of relief and opened the window slightly. The air was fresher here.
Now that I was safe in the kitchen, sort of. And the back door in front of me with moonlight coming in from the window I could see the damage on me.

My eyes widened slightly, my hands were covered in my own blood. A shard of glass was in my shoulder and one in my ribs. I picked out the shoulder one since it was small and practically useless.
I dragged myself along to the floor, poking a hand up to grab a small mirror off the kitchen counter, I looked at my face. A bit of hair was singed off, my face was dirty and bruised. As you would expect. But I had some blood running down the side of my face. Probably from when Skulduggery tried to throw me out of the blast but I hit my head on the side of a chair.

My ankle was bloody sore and seized up, numb and aching. The ringing in my ears hadn't really faded. I was burning in my chest and more numb in my limbs. My eyes still stung and were watery, my nose was running a bit.

Apart from all that, I was alright.

I coughed slightly and my throat felt a bit clearer. Once I got my heart beat under control I looked around. The kitchen was un touched, bright moonlight washing over each surface.

I crawled over some dust and struggled on my right foot, hopping slightly. I pressed my back against the door and peered out into the living room.

It was silent, my ringing faded into the background.

And then, the ever so slight tell tale sound of voices upstairs.

I couldn't make it out.

But one was un familiar to me.

Standing up make me dizzy and woozy, my knee's buckled. And I stopped myself to making a thud, pressing my hands against the ground. I breathed out and put my back against the door, listening.

My eyelids fluttered and I saw a scene before my eyes.

Shards of glass littered the landscape, casting rainbow patterns along the smoky ground. I heard a voice calling my name. I turned and saw Skulduggery, he seemed urgent and concerned.

He kept saying my name and some other things that were slurred to me.

A heavy breeze went over me and I tumbled-

I snapped out of the trance and glanced up, sweat was breaking out of my forehead. Sharp pains crackled through my body from the deep shard of glass in my ribs.

I heard louder voices.

"Valkyrie." Cooed the unfamiliar voice.
"Oh Valkyrie, where are you dear?"

I held my breath.

"Darling, you don't have to hide."
And then an angry roar filled the room and there was a crash.

Okay. Had to get up. Had to get out.

I struggled to my feet. Gasping as the pain hit and tumbled over itself.

My mind did somersaults and I gripped something till it was over.

The key, where was the key?

Thoughts and words rolled off my tongue in a dry, laziness. I snatched around the dusty counter until I gripped metal coldness. They jangled. More crashes and angry yells.

I had to keep my eyes closed otherwise I'd collapse.

I felt around for the lock, stuffed in the key and turned. It wouldn't work. I tried the other key. A small click sounded and I heaved the door open just as a flame flew across the room.

No. My eyes were open. Okay. Don't look down.

Don't look-

I looked down. he ground was spinning before my feet, I staggered and heard a warning shout. I glanced up just as a knife whizzed past, struck my coat and pinned me to the door.

Bloody hell. It was hard to think.

I'm pretty sure he threw in a stun grenade instead. I muttered curses to myself that weren't even audible.

The blade had jut scratched my shoulder. I gripped the handle. My eyelids fluttering.

Come on. Just a bit more strength. I willed for it.

"Looks like your partner isn't holding up." Sneered the un kindly voice.
"Well. You threw in a grenade. I'd say you cheated and she's doing just fine." Skulduggery growled

I'm doing just fine, I thought.

I yanked and the knife clanked the to floor. I stumbled forward and grabbed a chair to brace myself.

I could hardly see.

Skulduggery and other guy were fighting.

Skulduggery pushed at the air and he went flying into the wall but turned to vapour just as he hit, before swarming out in two pieces of vapour and joining together to hit Skulduggery in the chest.

Other guy reformed, he wore a long black coat over a black suit.

"Where does Yanner find all you people?" Skulduggery grumbled, whipping out a gun at the last second and shooting him.

I think the sight of his own blood scared him and he fled.

"Ah guns. They always work." Skulduggery sighed.

Then he looked at me. I looked at the window, down at my ribs, at all that blood and then the floor which was spinning even more dangerously.

I stumbled violently, tipped and fell. Smacking my head on the ground.

Dun dunn.