Hello, sorry for not updating either of my stories- I had an accident and fell which resulted in various cuts all over the left side of my body, and a large scar on my face, a bit like Dusk -_- I'm not sure how often updates will come, as, as you can imagine, I'm not in the best mood for writing at the moment, and I'm also fairly busy with schoolwork, and my birthday is coming up on the 19th. I think if I receive sufficient interest, then I'll make the effort to update really soon, otherwise it may be up to a week before the next update. :)

Also, thanks for everyone who replied to those two questions I asked, the next two are at the bottom of the chapter.

The results to 1 and 2 were as follows (and this is from both this story and my other story):

1. Favourite character:

1st place- Ghastly Bespoke

2nd place- (joint) Valkyrie Cain / Darquesse

2. Least Favourite character:

1st place: the Reflection

2nd place: (joint) practically everyone else mentioned; Black Annis, Eliza Scorn, Dusk, Samuel, Erskine, Beryl.

Now, without further ado; chapter 21

When Valkyrie awoke, she found that she was lying on a bed from one of the rooms upstairs. It was a single bed, not the double one she had been sleeping in before. She looked around, and recognised one of Ghastly's shirts on the end of the bed. So that's who's bed it is, she realised.

She got up, wincing slightly. She noticed that her right leg was sore, and her jaw hurt when she moved it, but apart from that, she appeared fine. She pulled up her trouser leg, and saw that her shin had been bandaged.

She exited the room and entered the bathroom down the corridor. Once she had spent ten minutes under the cold shower, being careful not to get her right leg wet (water manipulation came in pretty handy sometimes), she put her clothes back on and went back into Ghastly and Anton's room.

She sat on the bed, and closed her eyes and put her head in her hands, massaging her temples. Stupid Skulduggery, not knowing when to stop. Now I have a stupid headache from that stupid skeleton and his stupid fists and his stupid kicks and his stupid stupidity...

She continued to curse Skulduggery quietly to herself, not hearing Anton come in. He sat down next to her on the bed.

She raised her head, and he smiled at her. "Skulduggery's just received an hour-and-a-half long lecture from Ghastly," he said. "He took it too far this time."

"No," said Valkyrie, defending Skulduggery. "He's taken it further than that before. This was pretty mild," she admitted.

Anton looked her in the eye. "Even so, it's not acceptable," he said defiantly. "Valkyrie, he broke your jaw, fractured your ankle, and made you lose consciousness. These aren't minor injuries."

She looked away. "I've had worse, Anton, especially during training."

"But this is it- you shouldn't be having worse, you shouldn't be getting injuries like this at all."

"Anton, trust me- I can handle it."

"I know that, Valkyrie, but you still shouldn't have to go through it, regardless of whether you can take it or not."

"Thank you for your concern; I really appreciate someone caring for me, it makes a nice change for once, but I can handle it," she insisted.

"What do you mean 'for once'?" he inquired.

"Nothing," she said, startled. She hadn't even realised half the things she was saying.

"No, you meant something, your eyes misted up for a second," he pressed.

Valkyrie shook her head. Anton turned her head gently towards his, looking her once more in the eye. She tried to find the right words to say.

"It's just that, well, you know how my parents... yeah, I just miss their love and their care for me. Every time I came back from a case with Skulduggery, usually covered in injuries and stuff, I'd have a shower or bath, with the special rocks, and all traces of any injury would go away. Then I'd go down to see my parents, for breakfast or dinner or whatever, and even though I looked normal, no blood or bruises or anything, they would know that something was wrong. They'd see it in my eyes, or something, and they would know. Now don't get me wrong- Skulduggery cares and he knows when something's up, but..."

"It's not the same?" Anton finished gently. Valkyrie nodded, and rested her head on Anton's shoulder. He always understood; he was possibly her closest friend, after Skulduggery.

He patted her back. "Come on," he said. "Dinner's almost done."

He took her hand and led her out of the room, going slowly as he could see that she was limping slightly.

"The pain should have lessened by tomorrow," he said, noticing her discomfort.

"Hopefully; we've got the Sanctuary raid coming up- no way I'm missing that," she said, grinning. They reached the stairs, and Valkyrie stopped and just stared at them. "How the hell am I meant to get down two flights of stairs?" she asked.

Anton gently picked her up bridal style, and began descending the stairs, slowly and carefully so he didn't cause her any pain. She rested her head on his shoulder again. "I could get used to this," she smiled.

"I think Skulduggery should be your personal escort," said Anton. "This is, after all, his fault."

"Nice to know you care," said Valkyrie sarcastically.

"Valkyrie, I'd gladly carry you up and down the stairs all day, you know I would, but I believe in justice; so, Skulduggery should put in a little effort here and there. Even if that means he gets to carry the beautiful lady."

Valkyrie smiled. "So, what's for dinner? Oh God, please tell me you cooked."

Anton smiled. "I think we all learned our lesson from before. I made some roast chicken legs and chips, with gravy. Is that okay?"

"Definitely, it sounds delicious. It'll be nice having someone else cook for me."

"You've done enough work for now, and besides- you have an excuse. You're temporarily disabled. Crippled. Restricted. Handica-"

"Okay, Anton, you can stop now," she said, laughing. "I got the message; don't train with Skulduggery any more, unless he promises to behave."

"Good," Anton smiled. "Just try not to get injured until we actually get to the Sanctuary; we'll need you for the mission to become a success."

Valkyrie frowned. "Anton, I have no intention of missing out on the mission, but if I did, you guys would do fine on your own. You're all built for war!"

"That may be so, but you're gifted in your own way as well, Valkyrie. I saw you in action during the Sanctuary war; you're capable of quick thinking and effective escaping, as well as formulating plans and spotting errors and potholes. You may not realise it, but you're an essential part of the Dead Men."

Valkyrie lifted her head and looked at him. "Really?"

"Really," he confirmed.

They reached the kitchen, and he set her down in the chair at the head of the table, after she eagerly pointed it out to him. He sat next along the line on her left, and next to him was Dexter, already seated. Opposite Anton was Ghastly, but the rest of the chairs were empty. Soon, however, Skulduggery, Saracen and Erskine sauntered in, and Anton got up to serve the food.

He put the plates in front of everyone, and sat back down in his seat. "There are leftovers if anyone wants any," he said, and then they all began to eat.

"Anton, this is amazing!" gushed Valkyrie as she dug into the tender chicken leg. Anton smiled his thanks as the others also complimented him.

"Valkyrie," began Ghastly, "Skulduggery has something that he would like to say to you."

Valkyrie smiled, and was reminded of the day of the explosion, five nights ago, when Skulduggery was forced by Ghastly to apologise for waking up and embarrassing her. Skulduggery cleared his non-existent throat.

"Sorry for beating you up," he said bluntly.

Ghastly sighed. "That's the best we'll get out of you, isn't it?"

All was quiet for a few minutes, and then Erskine spoke. "I want a beer."

"No," said Ghastly, firmly. "We are all to stay sober, at least until after the attack on the Sanctuary. That means no beer today or tomorrow, Erskine."

"But I'm a good drunk!" he protested.

Anton looked up. "You really want us to prove you wrong again? Remember the time I found you in the Midnight Hotel's supply closet, long after the others had left and the hotel had moved on, and you were yelling "Narnia's been sealed off!" at the top of your lungs?"

The whole table began laughing. Erskine just sat there, embarrassed. "Guys, we've been through my drunken tales before," he tried, but they once again ignored him.

"Remember when he ran into the supermarket with a butcher's knife and started cutting up all the pineapples, shouting "Spongebob I know you're in there!"" laughed Saracen.

"But you're no better, Saracen," said Erskine, grinning suddenly. "You once spent three hours when you were drunk trying to drown my goldfish!"

By now, Valkyrie was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes, but it didn't stop there. It seemed that Saracen, too, was an interesting drunk, to say the least.

"Oh yeah," said Dexter, laughing, "remember when you asked Ghastly's mother if she was a virgin?"

"He did what?" asked Ghastly, nearly choking on his food.

"Uh, nothing!" said Saracen.

Skulduggery joined in, "You were so drunk once, Saracen, that you started talking to a raw potato, congratulating it on getting a part in Toy Story."

"And you threw rocks at my cat once, saying, "Go Pikachu, GO!"" laughed Dexter.

And the night continued with Erskine and Saracen's past drunken experiences coming back to bite them in the behind. However, Valkyrie knew that this sudden cheeriness was just to cover up the enormity of their mission, which they were going to undertake in under 48 hours. They knew that not everyone would come out of it unscathed.

So, the next questions:

Q3: Who is a character that you hate/dislike, that everyone else loves?

ummm I'm not sure... I think Tanith; sometimes she can just get really annoying, and the stuff she did while possessed was infuriating, even though it wasn't her fault. So yeah, Tanith, because she can get on my nerves, possessed or unpossessed.

Q4: Who is a character that you love, that everyone else hates?

Solomon Wreath. He is witty, charming, intelligent, strong, handsome, powerful, etc. Solomon Wreath without a doubt.

Let me know your opinions!