"I'm afraid I have bad news my lady." Dragonclaw said nervously

Meloncholia lifted her head and stared at her pathetic servant. "What news?"

"It seems that the followers of the Faceless Ones are planning to open the portal."

She scowled, "That can't happen."

"What do you want to do?"

"We will stop them."

"Mistress are you sure you're strong enough?"

Shadows curled around her in answer to his question and he backed away. "If they succeed and the Faceless Ones return, then they will kill everyone and the passage will never come to pass." She growled, "We have no time to lose, where are they?"

"They must be where the portal opened last time." Dragonclaw answered as she strode past him out of the room.

She could not allow those false gods to destroy her world, the only one doing that would be her.

Valkyrie crept quietly along the side of the building, keeping to the shadows. She didn't like being sneaky, she would much rather burst straight in there and apprehend Meloncholia, and maybe even slap her around a little bit. Unfortunately, according to Skulduggery, she may still have the power she once had. Nye had stopped her from being able to recharge herself, but could do nothing with the power she had already accumulated, and by the number of deaths she had caused, it seems she has found a way to recharge herself. So all that meant stealth was necessary.

She found an open window and crawled through silently, looking around as she dropped down to the floor. She went to the door and pressed an ear to it, trying to pick up the muffled voices on the other side that were growing louder. Valkyrie lay down and peered under the crack as two pairs of feet walked past.

"Go, get a car." A familiar voice ordered

"Yes mistress" a second voice answered

She held her breath as Meloncholia and Dragonclaw walked past, then opened the door silently and followed them down the hallway. Just before they reached the exit, Skulduggery stepped out in front of them.

Meloncholia sighed, making him cock his head.

"I'll admit, that wasn't the reaction I was hoping for." He said

This was bad, Meloncholia was so calm. Could this mean she still had the power of the death bringer

"Out of my way skeleton." She demanded

"But that would defeat the purpose of me getting in your way."

Dragonclaw turned to go the other way but paused when he saw Valkyrie already blocking his path.

"You're under arrest." She said "for several murders, breaking into the sanctuary and for having that stupid beard."

Dragonclaw scowled but remained still.

"You too Meloncholia, except for the beard bit."

"The longer we stay here, the worst things get." Meloncholia muttered impatiently, "deal to them." She said to Dragonclaw, and with a small motion of her hand, a wave of shadows slammed into Skulduggery and knocked him into the wall as she stepped past him for the door.

He quickly jumped into action, and fired his gun, but the bullets were absorbed by the darkness that coiled around her feet.

"Why do I even bother." He muttered, "just a waste of bullets."

He clicked his fingers and sent twin streams of fire at her which she deflected and retaliated with her shadows.

Valkyrie ran forward but was pushed back by Dragonclaw. She clicked her fingers and threw a fireball at him, hitting him in the chest. He screeched and patted the flames out, then sent a fist of shadows slamming into her stomach, taking her off her feet. As she fell, Valkyrie spun in the air, landing on her feet and sending her own shadows into his shins, making him flip over onto his side. Taking the opportunity, Valkyrie ran past him but a tendril of darkness wrapped around her ankle and she was pulled back, she turned and moved with the tendril until she reached Dragonclaw and jumped up, kicking him in the face.

Meanwhile, Meloncholia had shadows pinning Skulduggery against the wall. He pushed at the air and she stumbled back, losing her hold on him. He jumped down and sent a stronger blast this time, pushing her back.

Meloncholia scowled at him and shadows began to collect around her body.

"No!" Valkyrie yelled as she ran over, recognising what was happening, but it was too late. The shadows dispersed and Meloncholia was gone.

"Damn it." She muttered. "If she is still as strong as she was, then she could be miles from here."

"No." Skulduggery answered, "Her power is limited, she can't recharge like she used to, I don't think she would waste what she has."

"So she's nearby, but what about him?" she asked, jerking a thumb over her shoulder at Dragonclaw.

"Leave him. He's not important right now."

"What?"

"Come on, we can't lose her."

Dragonclaw jumped up and soon he had also disappeared.

"And why did we let him go?"

"He'll take us to her, we know that he can't go far, his necromancer ability isn't nearly strong enough. He must have reappeared outside, let's go."

They ran outside just as a car roared past with Dragonclaw at the wheel.

They ran to the Bentley and jumped in, the engine roared to life and they followed them through the flow of traffic with ease.

Valkyrie spotted a flash of blonde hair from the passenger seat in Dragonclaw's car.

"He has Meloncholia."

"But now, where is he taking her?"