It has been a while but I have got my reasons. Just PM me if you want to know them… Long chapter as promised! Split into two in fact.

Valkyrie

Valkyrie had a pounding headache and an acrid taste in her mouth as she regained consciousness. She groaned and struggled to peel open her eyelids as she tried to remember where she was and how she'd gotten there. As her eyes focused, the first thing she saw was an ornate carving above her of what looked like fairies running away from a group of bloodthirsty soldiers. She couldn't even begin to understand the origins behind it so rolled herself over to the side.

A dull throb in her left arm reminded her briefly of when she fell onto her arms in her struggle to get away from Ghastly.

Oh god, Ghastly. She thought, confused as to what was real or not. Did he really do all that stuff? Not now. She reminded herself.

She brought both of her arms out from underneath the red velvet cover she had on, to inspect them. She was sure that she had broken them but when she saw them they were fine. She prodded each one and was surprised when it didn't hurt. That was when she noticed two thin chain bracelets, each silver in colour. There was one on each wrist and she struggled to see them properly in the dim light of the room.

She looked towards the dark red curtains that were covering the window and sat up. She then swung her feet around to touch the floor and her feet were instantly swamped in a fluffy rug that was beside the bed. She unsteadily got to her feet and stumbled over to the window before pulling open the curtains to reveal a rising sun, crowned by clouds tainted pink. She looked down and found that she was four stories above the ground.

"Damn," she muttered. Shivering in the cold room. She put her arms around her and was confused by the lack of arms in her clothing. She looked down and almost screamed. Instead of the jet black clothing she was expecting to see, she saw that she had been put into a knee-length pink nightdress with frills at the bottom. It had thin straps over her shoulders and flowers that adorned her waist.

"Pink?" she gasped. Anger bubbling up inside of her.

"It's pink! Who put me in this!?" she shouted. Adrenalin made her run to the door and batter it until her arms were bruised. She stopped abruptly to look at them and was shocked when they healed quickly. She looked at the bracelets again and realised that in the better light of the sun, there were four symbols engraved into the top of it.

One of them must heal. She thought to herself. Finding herself strangely calm under the circumstances. As she stood still, she noticed the lack of feeling against her hands. In order to make sure she was right, she clicked her fingers to try and make a flame. Nothing happened so she tried again.

No magic either. Just great.

She slid down the door to the floor, miserable as she lost the calm serenity that she had had. In a moment of anger she grabbed her nightdress, pulled it over her head then threw it at what she guessed was the wardrobe. The door was ajar and as the nightdress hit the side of it, it opened slightly more, revealing her usual black clothes.

"Really?" she murmured to herself disbelievingly. She stood up and held her arms tightly, aiming to restrain her anger from bursting inside of her and to warm herself up.

Valkyrie took in a deep breath then walked over to the wardrobe, unhooked her clothes and put them on. Revelling in the feeling of warmth as the temperature control within her clothing worked.

"Much better," she whispered, wishing that somebody was there to hear it.

Now it's just the problem of getting out. She thought.

She realised that she hadn't even tried the door yet and checked it, just to make sure that it wasn't open. The door handle wouldn't move. She laughed, remembering a time when herself and Skulduggery had been 'stuck' inside a room for three hours before either of them noticed that the door was open.

Valkyrie forced herself not to think about that now and instead walked over to the window. It was too high to jump out of but if she managed to get the bracelets off…

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a key turning in the door. She immediately jumped into a defensive position. Aiming to be ready for whatever came through that door.

Caelan sauntered in with a casual manner and locked the door behind him. His unchanging smile began to make her nervous and she stepped back as he stepped forward. His face flinched and he lowered his eyebrows slightly upon seeing her hurt expression.

"What do you want with me?" Valkyrie asked quietly.

"You say that as if I am the criminal," he replied, stepping towards her, trying to close the gap between but Valkyrie kept moving back.

"You are a criminal! You kidnap me, torture me and to be completely honest, are now freaking me out entirely. How sick do you have to be to think of yourself as an innocent? Why me?"

"Why do I love you, you mean?"

"No, why are you obsessed with trying to make me love you?"

Caelan smiled pityingly at her.

"You honestly mean that you don't know? You are special to me my love. More special than you seem to know," he stepped forward again but when Valkyrie moved she collided with the wardrobe behind her.

Her eyes widened and Caelan, seeing an opportunity kept stepping forward until he was within a hand width of touching her.

"Leave me alone," she warned him,

"But don't you see? Destiny has brought us together-"

"Or maybe it is you ordering Sanguine?" Valkyrie interrupted. Caelan took a deep breath.

"It's just a shame that you are blind to your real feelings for me."

"For your information, there is no way that I am blind. I'd sooner eat a toad's liver than have any sort of relationship with you."

"My poor sugar fairy."

"What did you call me?"

"You are slowly killing yourself but don't worry as you don't have to hide anymore.

Caelan smiled then held her arms below the shoulders, before gently placing a kiss directly onto her lips. Valkyrie pulled away with disgust clear on her face and then pushed him back instinctively. Well, she tried to but he was stood like a brick wall.

"Don't deny me my flower, you know that deep down, you really do want me."

Valkyrie looked down at the silver bracelet that was biting into her wrists painfully. Since when had they gotten tighter? Was it responding to her emotions or something? She looked back up at Caelan and scowled.

"Please don't look at me so. It makes you look like a wild animal. I am giving you the opportunity to free yourself. Take it!"

Valkyrie was silent whilst Caelan was talking, unsure as to how she was supposed to respond. She shook her head stubbornly and closed her eyes.

"No." was all she said.

Caelan's arms encircled her waist and her eyes snapped open. He pushed her into the wardrobe door and mashed his face into hers. Valkyrie's face scrunched up and she focused on keeping her mouth closed as Caelan tried to force entry with his tongue.

He carried on as Valkyrie tried to weakly push him away. She suddenly felt Darquesse in her mind, pushing herself forward. She tried to push back as hard as she could but with Caelan trying to French kiss her as well, she couldn't and blacked out.

Darquesse opened her eyes and smiled against Caelan's lips. She'd had enough of him already so thought that she'd lend Valkyrie a hand. She pushed Caelan and he went sprawling unceremoniously onto the floor. A sharp pain spiked her head as Valkyrie fought.

"Damn." Was all she managed to say.

Valkyrie instantly gasped at the sight of Caelan on the floor. He snarled up at her and then, she was running.

I haven't thought this through at all She thought but revelled in the feeling of it being the right move. The reason being that she knew she needed space if Darquesse got through. She looked behind her and saw Caelan stalking towards her like a predator, smiling in anticipation.

Her foot caught on the corner of the luxuriously fluffy rug and she crashed onto the floor hard, barely registering Darquesse as she broke free.

Darquesse was getting irritated. She was only trying to help Valkyrie and yet she was being fought against. She sensed more than heard Caelan behind her and responded as she saw fit.

She spun and punched him, placing abnormal force behind it. He fell back, clutching his face whilst Darquesse quickly mended her broken hand.

Caelan looked up at her in fear.

"Who are you? This isn't you Valkyrie."

"I shouldn't think so. I am your worst nightmare." She pulled shadows from behind her and pushed them forward over Caelan. She laughed at him the felt a hand grab her foot. She jumped back hastily, confused and startled.

Valkyrie broke through at that moment and felt Darquesse retreating within her. What had made her do that?

She was panting heavily and felt as if she was going to collapse any minute.

Caelan decided to make his move now and leapt at her from his place on the floor. He gripped her arm tightly and pulled her to the bed before forcing her to sit down.

"Don't struggle Valkyrie please."

He let her go then went through the door.

That was locked. She thought to herself then sprung herself at it before it could close again but her arms were grabbed from behind almost immediately.

"Not so fast lil' darlin'," Sanguine drawled. She screamed in frustration - although it sounded more like terror to her ears – before pushing her back into him. He stumbled under the onslaught but didn't let go.

Caelan came back in with a syringe which was completely filled with a light purple, slightly luminescent, liquid.

"What is that?" Valkyrie asked, eyes widening as her panic restricted her breathing.

"Just something that I've made especially for you my pretty princess,"

"For the last time, I'm not yours!" She screamed at him.

Caelan smiled and stepped forward to roughly grab her arm. She thrashed wildly in Sanguine's grip but to no avail. Caelan held her forearm and jabbed in the needle quickly. As soon as he withdrew he motioned for Sanguine to let her go and he complied.

She dropped ungracefully to her hands and knees as her muscles shook and the spasms took over. She moaned slightly as she felt her thoughts changing, bending to Caelan's will as the potion coursed through her veins.

After about thirty seconds she fell silent and looked straight up at Caelan before smiling adoringly at him.

"Hello Valkyrie." He crooned whilst helping her up. She accepted his hand then flung her arms tightly around his neck.

"I love you!" she whispered. He smiled and kissed her.