Dedicated to Valkyrie Smith. Hope you forgive me at some point

"Go to sleep, Val- I've been having the best sleep for the first time in years, don't do this to me," Satya grumbled into her pillow.

Valkyrie ignored her, twirling the shadow around her finger before waving her hand sharply. The black shadow knocked over the cup she was practising with, the smallest amount of magic that she had been able to muster.

Satya muttered something under her breath.

Valkyrie flexed her fingers. "Thanks for the support," She said dryly, her annoyance clear. She was starting to get sick of this. "What is the point of this? I can do necromancy, I think it's obvious."

"It's not about being able to do it, it's about being able to control it."

"What's the fucking difference?!" She yelled suddenly, waving her hand sharply. To her shock, the shadows followed her movements in the form of black shards, hitting the mirror and shattering it.

Her mouth dropped open.

Satya shot up. "Did you do that?"

Valkyrie nodded, eyes wide.

"Get changed," Satya got to her feet quickly, "Hurry up- You're ready. We can be done and back home by the end of the weekend."

Valkyrie scrambled to her feet, pulled on a shirt and some pants over her shorts. Satya put on a pair of baggy pants over her shorts, grabbing a shawl and wrapping around her head loosely.

"Should I-? No- Okay-" Valkyrie stumbled over her mattress following the woman who was in a hurry. She followed Satya into the hallway, having to fall into a jog to keep up with the woman's hurried walk. They went past the main hall and towards another set of rooms which Valkyrie hadn't seen yet.

As they approached, she could hear the soft hum of voices, like a choir of a church, singing hymns and prayers to the Goddess Kali.

Satya slammed a door open, using air to force it open and the choir ceased.

Valkyrie stood there awkwardly, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights as Satya all but stormed into the temple room. Mastani stood infront of a gold statue of a woman, holding a platter that was filled with a small bowl of red, a flickering flame and a bowl of rice, strangely. She was surrounded by a number of woman, some Valkyrie recognised from her hours sparring in the hall.

Satya said something urgent to hindi and her sister replied with something in turn, passing the platter off to a younger girl with a gentle word. She gestured for someone out of Valkyrie's line of sight and began walking towards Satya and Valkyrie.

Then the elderly woman stepped into view.

Valkyrie grinned at the sight of her. She hadn't seen her since she had received the necromancer ring, the ring in question was ice cold at the moment, but she couldn't figure out why.

Satya clearly didn't have the same reaction. She took a step back, her face filled with horror and confusion, Valkyrie didn't know why but she remembered, Satya had not met this woman. Or had she?

"What the fuck-" Satya whispered, eyes wide. "What the hell, Mastani- What is this?"

The elderly woman wasn't smiling now, her forehead creased into a tense frown.

"Satya," Mastani said sternly.

"What is she doing here?!" Satya snarled.

"Satya, what's going on?" Valkyrie whispered, tugging on Satya's arm, "Who is she?"

Satya snapped her fingers, summoning a flame.

"Satya!" Mastani shouted, "Enough!"

Valkyrie took a step back.

"Ma," Mastani addressed the woman, speaking gently. The woman nodded before pulling up her shawl over her head and walking away.

"What is she doing here?" Satya repeated, dispelling the flame.

"Who is she?" Valkyrie asked, feeling slightly frustrated.

"My mother-in-law," Mastani answered, "The woman of the house. Show her some respect," She said sharply to Satya.

"Respect?" Satya said, voice full of mirth, "That bitch tried to-"

"That bitch actually did it to me!" Mastani roared. Satya fell silent.

Mastani let out a sigh. "She is the only person that can Seal Valkyrie's name. You need her."

"Where's the woman who sealed mine?"

Valkyrie blinked in surprise.

"Dead," Mastani said bluntly, "She killed herself four years later."

Satya just glared. "If she tries anything I'll kill her myself," She warned. Valkyrie swallowed at the darkness in her tone.

"I'll tell her myself," Mastani said graciously. "If you are quite done- Valkyrie? Shall we begin?"

Valkyrie was suddenly quite nervous. "Right now?"

Satya placed a hand on her arm. "Hey," She said gently, "You'll be fine. It's more scary than painful."

"That doesn't help."

"Yeah, I suppose not."

"You really can't come with me?" Valkyrie said softly.

"I'm sorry, Val," Satya said with a sigh, "This is something you're going to have to do alone."

Now Valkyrie was really scared.

oooooooooooo

Valkyrie's breaths were sharp and slow. It had been three hours since she had been lain on the stone table, the potions and tools lain by her body on a separate stone. Her torso was bare, and she was cold, so damn cold in the chamber where the stink of death permeated her senses.

Her eyes were closed, had been for the last two hours. She had felt the cold sting of the scalpel as the elderly woman had cut sigils over her chest, pressing different salves into the wounds.

She couldn't feel pain, only the slight prickling sensation where the blade cut through her skin like paper.

She refused to open her eyes, forcing herself to sink into the meditative state that she had been taught just days before.

The silence was eerie. The woman still hadn't spoken and Valkyrie was only just slightly freaking out. It had been roughly six minutes since she had heard the woman or felt her presence.

God, she was alone.

She was alone. Satya had left her. It was cold. She was going to die. No no no no-

She opened her eyes.

Valkyrie let out a shaky breath, her eyes adjusting to the darkness of the stone chamber. The ceiling was curved, curling over the chamber like they were in a cave of sorts.

She looked down and her breaths quickened, becoming laboured.

"Oh god- Oh god-" It was like a mantra on loop. She swallowed down bile, nausea tugging at her guts.

She could feel her eyes water and she knew she would begin to cry if she didn't get out of here.

Because her chest was cut open, blood coating the skin where it had curled away from her chest, revealing the puffy pink flesh of her lungs that moved as she inhaled and exhaled. She could see her bones, her rib cage- She had seen bones before, Skulduggery's rib cage occasionally made an appearance but it was the flesh that made her want to throw up.

And the lack of heart.

Oh god.

Where was her heart?