Chapter 29: Saving China

A/N: It hurts me to write that as a title, but I shall live. Hmm…but if you do know me as a writer…you know I am quite the sneaky one. So, you shall see the dark surprise that awaits you. I'm changing the point of view to VALKYRIE'S.

Oh, and if you have the time, m'dears, go check out NightCatMau's profile and review, telling her NOT to leave. Thank you.


I sat at the kitchen table that morning, contemplating on whether I should request Skul to take me to the sanctuary. Sure, we had to find out where China was being held hostage, but why must we be in such haste? I really didn't mind waiting a little bit. Maybe some torture would do that woman some good.

No Valkyrie! Stop thinking these evil things! A voice in the back of my mind shouted.

Eh, guess it was right. Turning into Darquesse right now wouldn't be beneficial to me whatsoever at this point. All we needed to do now was act smarter than the criminals.

I sighed and set the coffee I had been sipping on down, and wandered into the living room, seeing that Skulduggery still wasn't up. He'd been meditating hard lately, like things were getting more tiring for him. I was slightly concerned, but I needed to stay on task right now. I brushed my hair behind my shoulders and jogged up the staircase of the mansion, my destination our bedroom.

I reached the doorway and glanced in, panic beginning to fill my system. Where was Skulduggery? Had the criminals struck once again? As I began to ponder these thoughts in my mind, I swore I heard mumbling.

"Oi, why am I on the floor?" came that velvety voice.

I sighed in relief and rushed over to the other side of the now light bedroom, and laughed at the sight before me. Skul was sprawled across the floor, with a cocoon of blankets wrapped around him. He was struggling to get out of it, and he looked slightly like a worm at the moment. Skul obviously caught me laughing, and sent a skeletal glare my way.

"Being my wife and all, Val, you should help me," he muttered, attempting to sit up.

I laughed slightly and rolled my eyes as I crouched down next to him. He kept shooting glares my way, but I couldn't help but just sit there. It would be really awkward to roll him around looking for the start of the blanket. Eh, he'd get over it. I tucked my hands under him and heard a startled gasp. He was going to start complaining any second now…

"May I ask what in the blue blazes you are doing? No! Don't do that! Ow, Val! Val? Val!" he screeched.

I shrugged and finished pulling the mass of blankets from him, dusting my hands of afterwards. I gave him a smirk and turned to leave, but his skeletal hand wrapped around my foot and I fell backwards. I shrieked as I crashed into him and tried to get up, but his arm held me there on his lap. I was about to return the embrace when I heard laughing coming from behind me. Oh, that was it.

"You are so clumsy, my dear!" Skul chuckled, the laughter threatening to get louder.

I growled and nudged him in the ribcage, finally getting out of his grasp. I stood up and dusted myself off, deciding to go downstairs and check the TV for any news reports.

As I left the room, I heard slight shuffling like he was trying to stand. Now if he was done messing around, maybe he could help. I marched down the stairs to take a seat on the couch, grabbing the remote from inside of one of Skul's hats while I went.

I took a seat and flicked on the television, becoming impatient when I saw commercials dancing across the screen. I rolled my eyes and threw my head back as some annoying jingle blasted through the speakers. As I sat waiting for the news to come back on, I heard someone walking, then recognized the footsteps.

"Come on, sweetheart, it was just a joke!" Skulduggery called from the steps.

I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the news that had just flickered back on, and leaned forward in interest.

"Valkyrie? Val!" Skulduggery clapped in front of my face, then clicked his fingers accidentally summoning a flame.

I couldn't help but laugh as Skulduggery yelped and put out the flame. He didn't get angry at my reaction but smiled, and I saw the perfect opportunity to tease him.

"Who's the clumsy one now, my love?" I teased, leaning against his shoulder as he sat down.

I felt him move back to look at me, and returned his skeletal gaze. He thought for a moment as he glanced at the TV then finally asked, "Why are you watching the news?"

I shrugged and replied, "Well, we still have a case, whether we want it or not, and we have to find those two detectives."

Skul nodded as I put air quotes around the word 'detectives' and I could tell he was in deep thought.

"What?" I asked, leaning back into the couch.

"We may have to go to the sanctuary and get the files on those two. If they have any…If they were smart, being detectives, they could have used it to burn their files," he replied, rubbing his skeletal chin.

I moaned and face palmed whispering, "You probably jinxed it…"


China sat their waiting for her daughters to come back and finish her off, when she remembered she still had her phone. Her eyes lit up as she saw the lump in her pocket was still there, but then she wondered how to get to it. She looked up at the shackles, and stretched the bit of chain, having it dig into her skin as it got closer and closer to her pocket. Her hand was maybe two inches away from her pocket when she heard voices upstairs, and knew she had to hurry. She kept pulling and finally got the phone to slide from her pocket to her hand.

She quickly snapped it open with her thumb and scrolled through the contacts until she reached 'Valkyrie' and pushed send, then clicking speaker. She heard the nerve racking beeps, and finally some one picked up.


My phone rang as I buckled up in the Bentley, and Skulduggery and I exchanged glances as I checked the caller ID. China.

My eyes widened as I read the name, earning a confused glance from Skul. I flipped open the mobile and held it to my ear, hearing that whoever was calling put it on speaker.

"Valkyrie?" China whispered into the phone.

I heard the voice echo and knew she was in a basement of some sort.

"China?" I called back.

"Shhh, they'll hear you."

"Who's they?"

"Crystal and Stormy. I need your help," she whispered into the phone.

"Ok, ok, where are you?"

"Some old building in the woods…Skulduggery might know…Just hurry, they are coming!" she pleaded eagerly, her voice almost strangled.

Before I could reply, the line went dead and I looked over to Skulduggery nervously.

"What's wrong, Val?" he asked, putting as gloved hand on my shoulder.

I gulped before answering quietly, "I know where China is."

Skulduggery stiffened before replying, "Where?"

I relaxed and answered, "All she said was some old building in the woods…she also said you might know where it is."

Skulduggery snapped his head towards me and whispered, "Why yes I do."

He slammed on the gas and we were off, leaving questions spilling into my mind. I watched as his grip became tighter on the steering wheel, and sensed he was tense. I probably shouldn't ask any questions…yet.


"WHO DID YOU CALL, WOMAN?" Stormy shrieked, shoving the phone into China's beat up face.

China spat in her face and muttered, "Go to Hell."

Crystal, who had been standing behind Stormy, gently shoved past her sister and stripped her gloves off quickly. She chucked the gloves into the corner of the room and whistled sadly as her sister wiped off her face in rage.

"You know China, I was being nice about not killing you and all. It would be real easy too, seeing that my sister took away your powers," Crystal sneered, cracking her knuckles.

China rolled her eyes and replied, "Mind telling me why you haven't killed me?"

Crystal laughed in China's face and stood up straight whispering, "Why do that? It ruins my fun."

China groaned and closed her eyes, hoping to God that Skulduggery and Valkyrie would show up soon...She didn't know how much more of this excruciating pain she could take.

"Ah, ah, ah, China. No thinking for you!" Crystal squeaked, thrusting her red hand out at her mother.

China writhed in pain, her feet tensing up whilst the pain throbbed through every part of her. Sweat began dribbling down her forehead, and she knew she was going to die. Soon.


"Where are we going?" I finally asked, glancing at the old house that came into view.

Skulduggery sighed and replied as he turned the corner, "This was Serpine's hide out before that wretched castle. You know...where he handled his...business."

I cringed and watched as Skulduggery opened the door and pulled out his gun. I followed him out and summoned a flame in my palm, hoping this fight wouldn't be hard. Hard? What was she thinking? These were mere teenagers. No harm...

Skulduggery finally reached the door and tested the knob, seeing that it was locked. As he went to work on picking the lock, I took the time to study where we were. It looked like one of those country homes with the huge porches that you saw in older movies, except it was twisted and dark. The white paint was chipping off, leaving the ivy to grow freely around the exterior. The roof had slight holes in it, and the shingles looked moldy and damp. The porch that we were now standing upon was even worse, the wood rotted and covered in mushrooms. I was cautious with my steps, fore even one wrong step could land you through the floor. No noises filled the air whatsoever, other than the lonely owl that sat perched upon a dead tree in the background of trees.

Finally I heard a click meaning Skul must have gotten the door open. I looked over to see Skulduggery standing back up slowly, signaling for me to come and take his hand. I nodded and crept over, grasping his hand reassuringly. We stepped inside, and it surely surprised me. Although the outside was quite disastrous, the inside was quite homey.

White wicker love seats sat in front of a well crafted fireplace, and a glass chandelier hung gracefully from the ceiling. The wooden floors in here weren't rotted, although they did have a tendency to creak. Hopefully there wasn't anyone downstairs to hear it...

We crept carefully over to a staircase that lead downstairs into the darkness. I looked at Skul and he nodded, which meant we were going down there. Oh goody, we were heading to the spot where people get killed in every horror movie.

Skulduggery held his hand up for me to stay where I was at as he slowly made his way down the stairs, his gun in hand. I watched every second as he ventured further and further away, until even his bright white skull wasn't even visible. I decided it wouldn't be smart to leave him down there alone, fore there may be an ambush awaiting. I quietly lowered to the first step of the stairs, earning quite a creak to emit from the wood. I winced and hoped no one heard it, and became steadier as I tiptoed down the wooden staircase.

After some careful maneuvering, I finally reached the bottom of the stairs to be completely enveloped in darkness. I squinted in the dark and tried to make out familiar shapes in the blackness to no avail. As I spun around I hit an object and immediately summoned a flame. My eyes darted up to see what it was, and in the flickering light, I saw Skulduggery with a gloved finger to his teeth. I nodded and put out my flame, grasping onto his free hand as we ventured even further into the mildew smelling basement. As we felt around for a light or door, I finally found something and tried to picture in my mind what it was. It was a door handle.

I pulled Skulduggery's shoulder and brought his hand to mine on top of the handle, and I knew he nodded. Skulduggery gently took my hand and put me behind him, slowly grasping the handle. I peeked over his shoulder as he began to open it, a sliver of light escaping the room within.

Skul finally opened it completely and I flinched at the sudden brightness that filled my eyes. My eyes finally adjusted to the light, and I got a good look at the sight before us. It was a starch white room with wires and the fuse box clinging to the wall, and on the opposite wall, I met the gaze of China Sorrows herself.

Skulduggery stiffened in front of me and I slowly walked past him to China, a small pool of blood below her shackled form. I studied her dirtied face and saw every bruise or cut that was visible, and knew she had been tortured. I knew the feeling and winced as she attempted to smile.

"China, where are they?" I whispered, my gaze darting around the room.

China slowly replied, "They left a few minutes ago...before you arrived."

I looked at Skulduggery who didn't seem to care about the woman, and shook my head. I brought my gaze back up to China who was merely hanging from the wall in pain. I held a flame up to the shackles and watched in amazement as the shackles melted. They weren't magic proof? Why didn't she escape on her own?

I bent down and looked into her pale blue eyes and asked, "What have they done to you?"

China laughed sadly and responded in sorrow, "Stormy took away my powers...for good. Crystal has that damned red hand like her father, and has been torturing me with it. Thanks for coming, Valkyrie."

I nodded as a tear threatened to escape, and I quickly brushed it away. China smiled weakly and glanced adoringly behind my shoulder at Skulduggery. I growled slightly but kept working on melting the shackles. She knew I didn't like what she was doing, because she pushed it further.

"So Skul, how's life? You don't care about me anymore?" she whispered, batting her eyelashes.

Skulduggery grunted something to my pleasure about 'that's an overstatement.' I grinned and finished melting the shackles, watching as China fell to the ground with a gasp. Her legs weren't broken, so she'd be able to walk...thank God. I really didn't want to carry her or have Skulduggery carry her. She stood up shakily and flashed a smile at Skulduggery, earning a cringe that only I could sense.

"Let's get out of here," he muttered, walking over and taking my hand.

I accepted his gesture and we began to walk out, the clicking of China's heels following behind us. I stopped and turned around whispering, "China, take the damned shoes off."

China rolled her eyes but obliged, mumbling something about me being an arse. Eh, whatever made her happy.

"Guys, shh," Skulduggery ordered, gesturing for them to take cover in the closet next to the staircase. I nodded and dragged China with me, her high heels in her other hand. We reached the closet and I shoved her in with me, hoping that everything would be taken care of soon.

"Aw, how come Skully couldn't come in here with me?" China whined in a fake tone, a smirk developing upon her lips.

I growled and muttered, "If you want to live, shut your mouth."

China rolled her eyes from in between the dusty coats and hangers, stumbling over a box that lay behind her. I couldn't help but giggle quietly, but then I heard a crash from outside the closet. China and I exchanged worried glances, then agreed that I should check it out...of course.

As I reached for the knob, the door suddenly opened and the light flashed in, revealing China and I among the coats. My eyes adjusted to the light and I could make out Crystal with her red hand flexing. Oh joy...and next to her was Stormy who could absorb powers. I really didn't want her to get a hold of me.

I glanced over and saw Skulduggery struggling to pick himself up from a mountain of glass from the broken lamp. He snapped his head at me because he knew exactly what was going to happen. I smiled sadly at him and waved before turning my attention back to Crystal who had a dark smirk upon her lips.

"This is going to be easy," she muttered, looking from me to China.

Crystal outstretched her hand at China first, and I looked away as her body fell to the floor, blood chilling screams escaping her mouth. I winced every time I heard sounds of her body twisting, and I knew I would be next.

"Ah, mother, I've been contemplating on whether I should kill you or not. Guess I have to now..." Crystal whispered icily, flicking her wrist.

China's body slammed into the wall, not killing her, but knocking her unconscious. This was getting to be a little too much for me...

I glanced over at Stormy who was keeping guard of the door, as if she knew someone was coming. I hoped someone was coming.

"Now for you, Valkyrie Cain," Crystal spat, moving her hand to point directly at me.

After a few seconds the pain kicked in, and I couldn't help but scream in pain. My arms were throbbing and my legs were numb...my vision was becoming cloudy and the last thought that came to my mind before screaming and passing out was Skulduggery.


"Ha, that was easier than it should've be been," Crystal laughed, putting her hand down. Skulduggery growled in anger and rushed over to his wife and cradled her in his arms, hoping that she was still alive.

"Aw, is Mr. Pleasant upset?" Crystal teased, putting her hands on her hips.

Skulduggery slowly brought his gaze up to Crystal and reached for his gun in anger. Crystal caught every movement and flicked her hand, and the gun flew across the room to hit the wall with a thump.

"Why are you doing this," Skulduggery demanded to know, glaring the best he could at the blond.

She cackled evilly and replied, "Why, I never meant to torture you and your wife, you just got in the way. Stormy and I were just after China."

Skulduggery cocked his head and questioned, "What about that Jack Horrid?"

Crystal laughed and replied, "He turned on my father at one point. He basically knew it was coming."

Skulduggery felt struck. These two eighteen-year olds were playing a very dirty revenge game here...better than most criminals out there. He couldn't help but think about Valkyrie who lay unconscious in his arms, and just hoped someone had noticed their disappearance.

"Now, now Mr. Pleasant. We aren't going to torture you. I think it was torture enough to see history repeat itself, don't you? Unless...we dismantle you bone by bone. You know that sounds good," Crystal growled, beginning to walk over.

Before she or Skulduggery could make a movie, there was a crash and a thud, showing someone was here to help. Crystal spun around and saw her sister unconscious on the ground, with no one there to accuse.

"What the?" she stuttered, glancing around the room.

Skulduggery took this as his opportunity and sprang forward, crashing into the blond who shrieked her whole way to the ground. He manipulated the air and his gun came flying into his awaiting hand, earning a scared look from the girl.

"Don't you dare!" she snarled, using her red hand to throw him off of her.

As Crystal walked towards him, Skulduggery noticed her stop suddenly, her jaw dropping in pain. Before confusion could flood his skull, he saw a tip of a sword protruding from her middle.

"Ouch..." she moaned before falling forward.

Skulduggery looked back up and saw Tanith grinning at him as she wiped the blood off of her sword. Ghastly soon followed behind her, holding two sets of shackles.

"Hello, Skul. Seems you are in trouble, yes?" Ghastly laughed, locking the shackles onto the two teenagers wrists.

"What are we going to do about that blasted hand?" Skulduggery asked as he managed to stand.

"Eh, we'll worry about that later. Why did you guys come here?" Ghastly asked, gesturing to Valkyrie.

Skulduggery hunched his shoulders and replied, "We were supposed to be saving China."

Ghastly nearly freaked out in shock but collected himself as he said, "Really? Why?"

Skulduggery shrugged and looked at Valkyrie whispering, "It was all her idea."

Ghastly nodded and hoisted the two teenagers over his shoulders, both alive. Tanith watched the movements of the bodies, making sure none came to why they were being carried out.

While the couple took care of the two teenagers, Skulduggery noticed his wife finally waking.


I groaned and put a hand to her forehead muttering, "God, that hurt."

Skulduggery smiled and rushed over, scooping my sore body into his arms. I smiled back and settled into his embrace but noticed China in the background.

"What do we do about her?" I asked, looking deep into his eye sockets.

He laughed and replied merrily, "She'll find her way out, my dear."


A/N: Aw, a sweet ending for this mini story? I hope so.

Next time, I will make it a separate the story into its own for you confused readers.