Let's get this started, shall we? It's all about to kick off.


The warehouse was suddenly a hive of activity. Skulduggery and Ghastly were using their limited knowledge of symbol magic to draw sigils all around the perimeter of the warehouse. Anton, Dexter and Saracen were setting traps and ambushes at strategic points.

Valkyrie and Erskine were instructing Fletcher over the phone on how to lead the resistance. He was to start in America, because, well, the USA loved the royal family, and you couldn't get more royal than the Dead Men. Plus, Grand Mage Zefira Kerias was previously in a relationship with Erskine, so America would probably be fairly lenient.

Once the symbols had been drawn, the traps set up, and Fletcher informed, everyone collapsed onto the sofas, exhausted and wary.

Dexter was the first to break the silence. "How long do you think it'll take her?"

Skulduggery tilted his head. "To show up, or to dismantle the defences?"

Dexter thought for a moment. "Both."

"She knows where we are," Ghastly said. "So, regarding how long it will take her to show up... She could already be here. In terms of dismantling the defences..." Ghastly was quiet for a moment. "For someone of her skill, the defences would be dismantled in a couple of minutes. Maximum."

"Damn," Saracen said. He checked his watch. It was almost eleven o'clock at night. "Should some of us keep watch?"

Erskine nodded. "That's a good idea, in case she sneaks up on us and catches us unawares."

"We'll do the shifts in pairs, for four hours, and then switch," Dexter said.

"Erskine, you're with Ghastly," Skulduggery said. He moved on quickly before Ghastly could protest. "Dexter and Saracen, you're together. Valkyrie, you're with me. Anton, you're on your own for a shift, if that's alright."

Anton nodded. Skulduggery looked at Valkyrie. "Valkyrie, would you mind terribly if we went first?"

"Nope," she grinned.

"That settles it, then," Skulduggery said. "You and I will do the first watch. Ghastly and Erskine, you're second. Dexter and Saracen, you're third. Anton, you're fourth, but if either Valkyrie or myself are awake, we'll come and join you."

Everyone clarified the plan, and then, after a quick meal, they went to bed, except for Skulduggery and Valkyrie. The pair headed for the second floor, to the large office at the front of the building. From here, they could overlook the whole of the north side of the warehouse.

Valkyrie settled into a comfortable, if dusty, chair, right in front of the window, and Skulduggery took a seat in an identical chair beside her. The windows were large, and spanned almost the whole width of the wall. A perfect spot for keeping watch. Valkyrie looked ahead of her, out of the window. The bright light from inside the room reflected slightly off the windows, but even so, the view outside was visible.

"The stars are coming out tonight," Valkyrie said softly, looking up out of the window at the midnight-blue canvas spread high above them, dotted here and there with bright splashes of glimmering white burning balls of fire. Valkyrie had never gotten this breathtaking view in Haggard, but here, in the countryside, the stars had emerged for all to see.

"They're lighting up the sky," Skulduggery remarked gently. He put an arm around Valkyrie, and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"It's beautiful."

"Like you."

Valkyrie smiled. Skulduggery looked down at her. "Valkyrie," he began quietly. "When China shows up... Remember one thing for me."

"Of course."

"Remember that I hate her. Valkyrie, I have a horrible feeling that something is going to go wrong. Just keep in mind that I love you. Not China. No matter what she says. I love you."

Valkyrie sat up straight, and looked at him. "I know. You hate her, Skul. I know."

"Glad we've cleared that up, then," Skulduggery said cheerfully. "Now, do you have any idea how we can pass the four long hours which we'll be sitting here for?"

"Maybe we could..." Valkyrie trailed off, and leaned forward in her seat suddenly. She stared out of the window.

"What is it?" Skulduggery asked curiously.

Valkyrie shook her head. "I... I don't know. I thought I saw something."

"Whereabouts?" Skulduggery asked, leaning forward as well.

"Somewhere off to the right," Valkyrie said, pointing to a small group of trees, which were just about visible in the dark, inky gloom. "Forget it, I think I'm imagining things. Making out shapes in the darkness."

Skulduggery sat back. "There's certainly nothing there now. Maybe it was just the wind, blowing the leaves on the trees, making it look as if something's moving," he suggested.

Valkyrie observed the night for a moment, then sighed, and settled back into Skulduggery's arms. "Yeah."

"Now, what were you going to say?"

"Maybe we could play 'I Spy'?" Valkyrie shrugged.

Skulduggery tilted his head. "Alright. I spy with my little eye socket, something beginning with 'D'."

"Dark?"

"You're good at this."

"Thank-" Valkyrie broke off again, and leapt to her feet. She stared out of the window. "There was definitely something there."

Skulduggery got up and stood next to her. "You're sure?"

Valkyrie nodded. "Positive."

"What did it look like?" Skulduggery asked her.

"It was a dark figure. I'm... I don't know if it was a person or a large animal, or something else, but it was moving. And of its own accord."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that it... I don't know how to describe this, but it had its own consciousness and awareness. It... It seemed too clever to be an animal or an inanimate object. It moved with so much purpose."

Skulduggery leaned forward towards the window, scanning the surroundings. "I can't see anything. But I trust you, Valkyrie. I believe that there is something-"

"Ssh!" Valkyrie hissed suddenly. Skulduggery tilted his head.

"Did you just interrupt-"

"Skul, seriously, shut up!" Valkyrie said angrily.

"You did it again!"

"Listen!" Valkyrie hissed.

Skulduggery tilted his head. From elsewhere in the warehouse, there was the sound of banging. Like a door closing. Or a hand knocking. Or something falling. Valkyrie couldn't quite identify what the sound was, but it was definitely there.

"Someone's making that noise," Skulduggery whispered.

"It could just be the wind, blowing stuff around," Valkyrie whispered hopefully back.

"No," Skulduggery said quietly. "It's too infrequent. There's no pattern to it. If there was a pattern, it would be the wind, or some other natural force as it moved objects back and forth. But it's irregular. So it's a person."

"It could be one of the others. Maybe Erskine needed the toilet," Valkyrie suggested. But she didn't believe this alternative any more than Skulduggery did. She felt next to her for Skulduggery's hand, and instantly felt comforted when she found it. He squeezed her hand, trying to get her to stay calm.

"Would now be a good time to mention that this warehouse is said to be haunted?" Skulduggery asked. Valkyrie whacked his arm. Hard. "I was joking," he deadpanned. Valkyrie visibly relaxed, trying to ignore the glee he was getting out of scaring her.

A few more moments passed, the banging continuing. "Valkyrie," Skulduggery began quietly.

"What?" she breathed.

"I've just realised something."

"Is this something important, Skulduggery?" Valkyrie hissed back.

"Yes. Very important."

"What is it?"

"The noise is getting closer."


Did anyone spot the musical reference? (Clue: Take That)