A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Ghastly, Anton or Skulduggery.
I was crying so hard as I rounded a bend around a hill that I realized I had to pull over before I wrecked. So I did and put my head on the steering wheel, but I felt so numb and dead inside that the tears suddenly stopped. I was staring out the windscreen contemplating a future alone when there was a gentle knock on my window.
I looked up, startled to see Ghastly. I got out and collapsed in his arms and then the tears did come. All the tears of grief and loss I'd never allowed myself to cry before. "Hush, sweetheart. Daddy's here, shh." He soothed, rocking me back and forth while he stroked my hair. "Get in the car, baby. I'll drive."
I nodded and got in, scooting over so Ghastly could drive. He sighed as we started out. "Before you ask, I have no idea what that man's problem is, Val. It's like he never fell in love before and he had to, at some point. I know I've been in love more times than I can count, God only knows what he'd do with that." He bumped my shoulder slightly and I gave him a shaky grin.
"Were going to the airport then to Ireland?" I asked and he nodded. "Good. Anton mentioned being in love before, and that the Gist was always a deal breaker. At least I thought he meant love. And he said I was the first to both love and desire him so I assumed there were women in his past."
Ghastly nodded and turned on the radio softly. As we left the nowhere the Midnight Hotel always appeared in and rejoined civilization I sighed. We'd been together for a mere moment by magical standards. And I knew I'd heal, but what we had was over now. Another failed romance. "You know, I've always had a feeling Anton had a family before. And I didn't mind. And that he had lovers before me. Was I jealous? Yeah, but it isn't reality to expect anything different."
"Mm. Well Anton seems to have trouble living in reality. Give me your mobile sweetheart." He said as it started to ring. I did and he took it then fished his out of his pocket and flicked them both out the window onto the highway behind us. I watched as a truck behind us crushed them into dust and laughed.
Dad laughed with me. "That's my girl. Thank God I didn't sell the shop. You can move in with me sweetie, until you're strong enough. I don't want you alone right now."
"Thanks, Dad." I said and he nodded.
It seemed to take forever, but we reached Ireland at last. When we got to Ghastly's shop it was the wee small hours of the morning. I couldn't hardly see straight as Ghastly led me to the small cot in his back room. He brought in a sleeping bag and threw it on the floor, and laid down beside me. I appreciated the gesture and fell into a restless sleep, entering a nightmarish world where I realized the truth. Skulduggery had known exactly what he was doing at the table the day I left. He'd done what he did to get his revenge and it had worked.
Man, the feels!
