Mrs Ravel - Thank you for understanding my point of view. It is SOOO hard flittering through all the stories, it drives me mad! Thank you for supporting me, you're the kind of person who's in tune with the writers, you know? But I can't take a break. Everyone would kill me.

X…

Valkyrie hauled herself out of the car, stretching her legs and her back as Sasha filled up the car's petrol tank. It only did around 18 miles to the gallon, therefore they were going to need a full tank to get them across the waters. She pulled on the collar of her blouse, fanning air to her skin as she watched Sasha fill up the tank. His hands were large and rough, the skin of a worker and a man who liked his weapons. He was tall like his brother, taller, even. His shoulders were broad and muscular.

With Skulduggery, Valkyrie could read into his body language like a book. She could see through every move he made. She knew when Skulduggery was in a good mood or a bad one, and she saw the same with Sasha. Sasha was a rough person, who tackled the game when it came at him until he won. He wasn't the type to give up, and he had a good sense of humour, but a terrible sense of boundaries. He was a gentle person, but kept his walls up and shunned people he didn't like. Valkyrie felt like she was describing Skulduggery, they were so alike that it was electrifying. Like being stood with a reflection, but who had a different perspective on things.

"You look lost in your thoughts," Sasha said, putting the pump back into the slot and putting his hands in his pockets, standing over Valkyrie. She looked up at him, and he smiled softly. Those lips perking upwards and a single dimple showing. His eyes were glittering, with that soft streak of glittering gold catching her attention. "You mind sharing them? Or are they reserved for my brother?" He questioned and she sighed softly. He was just like him. He read into things well.

"I'll share them." She said. "I can trust you, can't I?"

"That's like saying you trust Skulduggery."

"I do."

"You shouldn't."

"I know about his past, Sasha. You know, you were watching."

"That's not my point, Valkyrie. You know he's keeping things from you, and yet you don't want to see that. You want Skulduggery the way he is."

"I don't care if-"

"Stephanie." He hissed through his teeth, both hands slammed down on the car roof either side of her, and Sasha truly loomed over her. His shoulders were tense and his body was locked up. His teeth gritted and his brow was furrowed. Her eyes widened and her hands gripped the handle of the door behind her, her eyes locked with his. She dared move, Sasha had always kept his distance, now he was fired up and ready to lash out. And she had no way of stopping him.

"I don't want you doing anything for our sake." He said. "Because we don't need that. We don't need you going to such lengths. The people we're running from are after Skulduggery, they know how they can squeeze the life from his bones. They have been planning for such a long time for it and they got their heroine. They found what he wants. He tries to hide it Valkyrie and he can't. Sometimes, I hear him wish he was still a skeleton. That way, he hid his emotions better. You have to listen to me. Do not, under any circumstances, trust us with anything."

"If you really don't want me to do anything for you guys, then you shouldn't have brought me along."

"Man, you're tough as old boots," He muttered. "Just do as I'm asking. Skulduggery isn't going to be able to contain himself for long. He's going to come after you because you are the only thing he has left to care about. Nothing, I repeat nothing matters to him anymore. You could burn Ghastly Bespoke alive, but he won't bring a Sanctuary down upon the killer. But when you were almost killed by that necromancer a couple of years ago, I'm sure you remember what he did. He lashed out, pulling everyone with him. I tried to convince him out of it, but you are his only soft spot, Valkyrie."

"Why are you telling me this?" She asked him. "Why do I have to be told this?"

"Because I need you to understand." He said. "There are people after you and you can't let Skulduggery protect you. You saw what happened when he got shot. He almost died."

"I'm not leaving him."

"I'm not saying that, Valkyrie." He said. "I'm saying, that if the time comes, you don't let him follow you into a trap. Please, Valkyrie. You must understand. He's a terrible person when it comes to his emotions. He can control some, I must admit. But others such as love are like living dynamite to him. He won't be able to refuse you and you know that. So please just promise me you'll look after him."

"Sasha-"

"Promise me."

She closed her eyes. "Okay." She said. "I promise."

"Thank you." Sasha said then grabbed Valkyrie's shoulders and slung his arms around her, pulling her into the biggest hug ever. Squeezing her to his chest and burying his face in her hair. She could feel those soft plush lips pressing against the top of her head, and she could smell dust and metal on his skin. His smell was alluring, seductive and it filled her nostrils, electrifying her senses as she stood with her arms gently around him. "Thank you." He breathed, and she smelled the mint from his breath. Her hands knotted with the fabric on his back and she reassured him she was going to stick by her promise.

When Sasha pulled away, his expression and switched back to what it usually was. A quirky smile and a gentle tone. He was looking out of the corner of his eye at something, and Valkyrie followed his gaze to meet with a sight that she never thought she would see. There was a dark haired woman stood in front of Skulduggery, with her hair tumbling down her shoulders and her figure cut to perfection. Skulduggery's brow was arched at her, like something she had said had been utterly ridiculous. Then another sentence was mouthed and his jaw tensed.

"Something's going on." Sasha said. "Get in the car."

Valkyrie did as she was told.

Sasha stood there, cracking his knuckles and flexing his muscles. He looked like he was preparing for a fist fight. He called out to Skulduggery like some innocent citizen, like he didn't know what was coming at them both. But he did. Valkyrie could sense it. She could sense that Skulduggery was tense and that Sasha was reading through every detail around him. She could feel the electricity burning through the air. Valkyrie continued to watch and the woman began to turn, her hair curling in the wind. And when she looked at Valkyrie through the screen, Valkyrie herself froze.

China Sorrows.

Those light blue eyes glittered and shone, like gemstones in her face. She had her hands lapped over one another as she admired Valkyrie, sat in the car and smiled. Like she had the right to come and speak to her. Valkyrie wanted to get out the car. She wanted to get out of the car and fight. She was more than capable of taking down China. Skulduggery had taught her. And he was her closest enemy. She looked at him now, noticing the way his shoulders were relaxed yet his jaw muscles looked like they might burst from his face.

"China Sorrows." Sasha said and she looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "it's a long time since I've seen your pretty little face around here."

"I thought you were dead, Sasha."

"That's what they said about my dear brother, Sweet heart."

"I agree."

"And its what they say about you." He said.

"Oh?" She questioned. "Now why would they say that?"

"Skulduggery for one," He said. "His ruthlessness for another."

"The ruthless side to him was lost long ago," China said. "He's grown soft."

"I thought you would say so."

"I'm sorry Sasha, but I can't stand around to gossip at this present moment in time. I have to get into contact with Miss Cain there, you see."

"I'm afraid we can't allow that." Came Skulduggery's deep, low purr in China's ear.

"Are you sure you want to make that decision, Mr Pleasant?"

"Oh, Miss Sorrows." He said. "I'm sure. Its been a long time since I've spilled blood. And I'm rather looking forward to it." He said and she reared around sending a wave of energy into his chest. Skulduggery went stumbling into a stand of papers, sending the printed sheets of the latest news sprawling everywhere. Other users of the petrol station, Mortals, ran into their cars. Trying to avoid the fight that was erupting.

Valkyrie launched herself out of the car, sending herself spinning into China and taking her off her feet. The air rippled around them and the concrete ground shattered, shards of the man made rock spinning into the air and smashing into everything around them. The fresh hole was made greater as China fired a beam of light that missed Valkyrie completely, and the younger fighter began her attack.

Valkyrie's elbows came down like bullets from a machine gun. Hammering into China as she laid underneath her. But Valkyrie's assault wasn't lasting long. Because she was blasted back and smashed into a ford fiesta, denting the door massively and flipping over the car. She landed roughly, groaning and hauling herself up. She felt dizzy and her hand slammed down on the bonnet of the car, supporting herself as she saw Sasha throw China through a petrol pump. Drenching her in the highly flammable substance.

She saw Skulduggery's palms fill up with flames and she ran, dodging the twin stream of flames that would have taken her out easily and caused a major explosion. China flipped over the bonnet of the Aston Martin and Sasha vanished from where he was and was in front of Valkyrie in a instance. Who was trying not to fall over with the dizziness that was pumping through her system. She went down now, she wouldn't be able to take any resistance. Her body would shut down, sending her into unconsciousness.

"Skulduggery!" She called and China turned to him and smiled. "Just hear me out, Mr Pleasant. I'm sure you are concerned for her safety, are you not?"

"What I'm concerned about, China, has nothing to do with a person such as yourself." Skulduggery purred.

"No it doesn't, but I have information that you would deem relevant to the safety of your companion. If you discard this information, consider yourself walking into a trap. I don't wish for your lives to end in such brutal ways, but where's the fun? You need a head start, don't you? You need to get away from Silver? I can provide you with such services. All you need to do, is let me come with you."

"I see where this is going," Both Skulduggery and Sasha said in unison.

"Do you now?" China questioned. "Do you know that Silver's men are waiting at the docks for your princess?"

"I would suspect as much." Sasha said. "We're not stupid China, you of all people know that."

"Yes I do, sadly. But you must listen to me if you wish to survive. And even the chances of that are slim."

"Who is Silver?" Valkyrie asked. "You have to tell me who this Silver is."

"Skulduggery hasn't explained?"

"Explained?" Valkyrie asked. "No, he hasn't had the time China!" She cursed. Hearing the screeching of sirens.

"Leave China." Skulduggery said. "I don't want your help."

"You might not," She said. "But what are the opinions of your friends?"

"Get lost." They both growled.

"Alright then, so be it. Shall we resume the fight?"

"With pleasure," Sasha purred and the shards of broken concrete around him floated. Then turned stark and flew at China, Who spun in the air, slamming palm to palm and sending out a force field that rippled the air like a earthquake. The police cars came hurtling around the corner, screeching to a stop just as Valkyrie, Skulduggery and Sasha dropped to the floor. But the police officers who had just arrived knew nothing of the magic being used, so they were taken by the force field. Which slammed into them, sending them into the air and flipping the cars. Crunching metal with metal.

Valkyrie glanced to her left and saw the petrol alight, realizing this was her cue, she raced to the Aston. Jumping into the drivers seat, she reared out onto the road. The door opened and she let Skulduggery in whilst Sasha bolted for them. Managing to avoid the after shock of the explosion that sounded around them, the petrol station lighting up in red flames as the reaction between petrol and flame ignited. Valkyrie's ears rang as she drove the car, pulling out into the motorway and burning the accelerator. Skulduggery opened the window and flipped himself over the back, Sasha climbing in and seating himself down like a gentleman.

"Well," Valkyrie said. "I must say, that went well."

"We blew up a petrol station." Sasha grumbled, Valkyrie changed gears.

"A small petrol station." She reasoned.

"A cost of a petrol station. Cameras everywhere. Possibility's of us being seen was a certainty. Innocent bystanders lives taken away for a pathetic little re-match. What do you think this is, Gabriel? Blooming grand theft auto?" Sasha growled. "You're both stupid. Carry on acting so carelessly we're going to get killed. Don't get into fights like that for fun. Learn to control that temper, Gabriel."

"Alright, Sergeant."

Valkyrie giggled.

"And you, Valkyrie. Don't throw yourself into situations."

"Alright, Sir."

Skulduggery's turn to giggle this time.

"What is with the authority figure like name calling?"

"Fun." Skulduggery said.

"Immature." Sasha grumbled. "I can see why you two haven't slept together yet. I bet when she first saw you naked, she started giggling and couldn't stop."

Valkyrie started laughing again.

"She did, Sasha. I found it very insulting."