Hey guys, thanks so much for all the reviews last chapter! I can't believe I was away for so long! I'm so, so sorry. I was away at a student exchange in Cork. It was great, but there wasn't much internet access. Again, I can't believe I got all those reviews! Maybe if I hit 150 reviews I'll do a special update too... like, four thousand words long or something (don't hold me to that) Anyway, replies!
ParagonNight666: China's not anywhere near giving up yet... Valkyrie is totally awesome though, she's so powerful and a great strong female character!
Libertied Insanity: The way my fan fiction works summed up in four words... thanks (:
Disclaimer: I do not own the plots or characters of Skulduggery Pleasant; all rites go to Derek Landy.
Valkyrie's POV:
On the days leading up to the competition, practically all Valkyrie and her friends did was train. They would use the duelling hall at lunch to practice sparring. Soon, the whole gang were at the best they could possibly be and finally felt ready.
Valkyrie was really excited about the competition, but there was just one thing that worried her; China.
China had been extremely bitter ever since she had been announced as a sub. Everywhere Valkyrie went, there was always one of China's cronies there, trying to trip her up, or pull a carpet from beneath her, but Valkyrie had a feeling all that was just the opening act. The curtain was about to open, and Valkyrie wasn't too keen to see the show.
Valkyrie confided her suspicious in the gang, who did their best to reassure her, but couldn't quite promise that Valkyrie had nothing to worry about.
Valkyrie was becoming paranoid though, every time she went somewhere, whether it was down to lunch, up the hall to magic theory or going to training in the duelling hall, Valkyrie would be constantly checking over her shoulder, or investigating anything odd with unusual zeal. Is that the right context of 'zeal'?
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One particularly frosty morning, Valkyrie was walking down to breakfast, when a man dressed in warm furs came running hurriedly to her.
"Are you Valkyrie Cain?" He asked, Valkyrie nodded and he pulled her into a shadowy corner.
"I'm part of the resistance against Mevolent, I've been sent to give you this letter, it concerns yourself, Skulduggery Pleasant and Avril Fray.
Valkyrie nodded eagerly and took the letter he was holding out to her. "Keep it safe, and tell no one about its contents," said the man, Valkyrie nodded again, stuffed the letter into her pocket and sprinted back down the corridor towards her dormitory.
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Valkyrie ran excitedly down the corridor towards Skulduggery's dorm. She reached it and rapped hurriedly on the door. It swung open, Skulduggery his hair was tousled and he was still in his pyjamas.
"Hey Val, what is it?" He said good-naturedly.
"The resistance against Mevolent...sent us a letter...Avril you and I..." Valkyrie managed to pant before doubling over, out of breath.
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Once Valkyrie had found Avril and Skulduggery, they gathered in Skulduggery's dorm and opened letter eagerly. The envelope was light brown coloured and closed with a red wax seal, faintly depicting two crossed shepherd's staffs with a sword in the middle.
Dear Miss Cain, Miss Fray and Mr Pleasant,
Following the success of your rescue/escape mission in December, I have decided to offer you a place in the anti-Mevolent army. If you accept this offer, there will be a mission for you on the 30th of January, an operation that will be explained to you if you agree. As you have not yet had your surge, you will not be able to be part of the resistance full time, though you will occasionally be called for missions. This letter should be kept extremely confidential and should only be shared with people involved in the resistance. I expect a response to this letter in at least three days time.
Yours sincerely, Corrival deuce, resistance leader.
Valkyrie finished reading and looked over at Avril and Skulduggery; both were staring at the letter, their mouths slightly opened.
Finally, they looked up, and it was Avril who spoke first.
"I...I've always wanted to join the resistance but...I didn't think I'd be so...young..."
"I've always wanted to fight against Mevolent, after what he's done to some of my friends, so I'd be happy to take up this mission," Skulduggery stated, though he didn't sound very confident.
"Well, I'm going on this mission, whatever it might be, something has to be done about Mevolent, we escaped him once, so we can do this." Valkyrie said passionately, she looked nervous but eager and angry at the same time.
"All for doing this mission," said Skulduggery and raised his hand.
Valkyrie shot her hand into the air confidently, Avril doing so as well, though a little more tentatively.
"Okay, it's settled, I'll write a letter tonight and send it tomorrow morning," Valkyrie said.
Skulduggery and Avril nodded and Valkyrie stood up.
"Ok, I'm going to go and write that letter, see you at dinner." Valkyrie stated, and swept purposefully out the door.
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Valkyrie walked the corridor, towards her room at the far end of the hall. It was already half nine and she was extremely late for classes. It was a particularly dark day, and outside the sun shone faintly in the sky like a pale oyster.
Suddenly, as she passed a window, she saw the dark, sharp shadow of a tall, humanoid figure flit across the space of wall above the window and disappear.
Valkyrie turned around in alarm but saw only empty corridor. Again, as quickly as before, a shadow flitted across the wall.
"Who's there?" Valkyrie said nervously. There was no answer and Valkyrie started to panic. Her forehead was sweaty and her mouth was dry, there was nothing she wanted more than a glass of water. Valkyrie turned around towards the window, were she had first seen the shadow. Before she could even comprehend what was happening, something hit her hard in the temple.
Black clouds swam into her vision, she tried to shake them away, but she was dizzy and they overwhelmed her and she faded unconsciousness.
The last thing she remembered seeing was a pair of beautiful, startlingly pale blue eyes.
'Attacker's' POV
She had to admit, it had been fun scaring that brat Valkyrie. The expression on her face...well, she wished that she could have captured it in some way. Anyway, there was no way she could possibly keep that girl contained without help, she turned around as the door opened and her accomplice walked in.
"You're ready?" She asked,
"Oh, I'm ready alright. I've been ready since that brat went and attacked me, I reckon' it's time those tables turned." Billy-Ray Sanguine grinned, "Yup, I'm ready.
Boom
You like my little cliffhanger? (; I'm kinda evil... (;
This chapter kinda sucked, I'm super tired my flight got in at like, two so... don't blame me.