oO0Oo

Undercover

"Okay, I get that we're going undercover but do I have to wear this thing?" Valkyrie prodded the skin of the facade with a sour expression. "It feels like a rubber mask."

"We're going to a party where there may be sorcerers that recognise us," Skulduggery replied. "Yes you have to wear it, at least until our suspect is arrested."

"But I hate it."

"Tough." She scowled and looked at herself in the mirror again. She hated how the facade made her cheeks rounder and her chin smaller and changed her long dark hair to a mid-length blonde bob. It changed her eyes to green and made her lips fuller. She supposed to anyone else it would make her prettier, but she liked her face. It was one of the things she was completely secure about. Skulduggery turned to her and straightened his tie, wearing a face with nice brown eyes and wavy black hair. The high cheekbones and square jaw were the same as always.

"I like this one," she said. "It's a nice face."

"All my faces are nice. My excellent bone structure makes it impossible to have a bad face." She agreed with him, but she'd never tell him that. Not in a million years.

"Sure, whatever you say." He tilted his head and arched an eyebrow at her, taking in the new delicate features and the dark blue dress she wore. It was the exact same shade as his tie and she'd done it on purpose, though she'd never tell him that either.

"It's nice to know you can appear civilised sometimes."

"Hey, you're the person who introduced me to the fun passtime of punching people in the face. I blame you entirely for my behaviour."

"You forced me to bring you with me."

"I was twelve."

"You were a brat."

"I was adorable."

"You're still a brat even at twenty four."

"You love me though," she grinned.

"Unfortunately." His answer always made her stomach feel funny, though she knew there was nothing to it. "Are you ready to go?" She nodded and followed him out of his home and to the Bentley, sliding into the comfortable seat with a grateful sigh. The Bentley smelled exactly how all beautiful cars should smell; pleasant and leathery. She loved the car almost as much as Skulduggery did. He fastened his seatbelt and pulled out smoothly onto the road, the engine purring like a contented tiger.

"So this party. Do we have to dance and stuff or can we just snoop?" she asked. She hated dancing, even with him. It just wasn't something she was good at.

"I think just snooping will be fine. It would be best not to draw attention to ourselves." She nodded and went back to staring out the window for a while, and then a thought dawned on her. "What if we're caught snooping?"

"I'm far too sneaky to get caught. If you get caught you can say you were looking for a bathroom." She rolled her eyes, but she was grinning. "When we get there we'll need to stay with the rest of the guests for a while and then we can find a way to slip out and search the other rooms. The study is where we want to be."

"What makes you think he's keeping a magical artefact in his study?"

"Why wouldn't he?"

"Why would he?"

"You irritate me," Skulduggery said, raising an eyebrow. Valkyrie flashed him a broad smile. "It makes sense that it would be kept in the study."

"What if he doesn't have a study?"

"Men like Quentin Thorn always have a study." His head tilted. "We'll check there first together and if we find nothing we'll split up and search the other rooms."

"Sounds good to me. How do you know where the study is?"

"Simple. I'll just look where I would put my study if my house were built like his. If he has good taste then we'll find it no problem. If he's a moron then it might take a little bit longer to locate it."

"And then after that we take the artefact and arrest him for theft, right?"

"Right."

"You know it won't be that easy. It's never that easy."

"You're a very 'glass half empty' sort of person," Skulduggery mused.

"I'm realistic," she retorted. "There's a difference."

"You're far too young to be so cynical."

"Tell me about it, I'm starting to sound like you. I should get out more."

"Probably."

oO0Oo

Quentin Thorn's home was enormous. The mansion spread out gracefully behind the perfectly manicured gardens, surrounded by five acres of well-maintained land. The drive way was long and winding, lined by deliberately spaced trees on either side that held fairylights among their sweeping boughs. The drive ended in a circular courtyard where lots of cars were already lined up. Skulduggery pulled the Bentley into an available space and they got out. He offered Valkyrie his arm as they approached the huge oak double doors that opened into the reception area of the magnificent building. Val stifled a gasp as she saw the huge staircase dominating the centre of the room.

"This way, dear guests," the steward at the door instructed, guiding them through a large archway to the right. The floor was parquet and polished to a gleam. The walls were expansive and decorated in tasteful wallpapers with huge guilded frames containing oil paintings of serious-looking men and women hanging from almost every spare space. She couldn't help but stare as they were led to the large ballroom at the back where the party was in full swing.

A six-piece band played delicate music at the furthest end of the hall, with tables decorated as though for a wedding surrounding the large dance floor where couples swayed to whatever songs they vaguely knew. Waiters and Waitresses ducked in and out of the crowds with trays of champagne flutes and canapes balanced on their palms. Valkyrie ignored them and went straight to scanning the faces of the people nearest in case she recognised any of them. She was pleased when she didn't know anyone.

They stayed in the hall for no more than twenty minutes, watching the movements of the waitstaff to make sure when they did disappear they wouldn't be followed. Eventually Skukduggery took her arm and they stole back among the throng of party-goers, slipping through a nearby doorway unseen. Skulduggery read the air as they walked, steering them away from anybody heading in their direction to where he thought the study should be. To Valkyrie's annoyance, he was right.

"I told you it would be here," he said smugly.

"Yeah, yeah. No need to brag." She set about searching the shelves lining the room as he went to the other side and did the same. "What am I looking for again?"

"A coin about the size of your palm. It should be silver and it'll have a picture of an eight-leaf clover on the face."

"An eight-leaf clover? Why not four?"

"I don't know, I didn't make it." She rolled her eyes and went back to searching, being careful to check the books as well in case it was hidden in the pages.

"What exactly does the coin do?"

"It grants luck. For example, if you were to place a bet on a race and then flip the coin, you would win your bet. If you were walking down a street with someone you didn't particularly like and saw a crack in the pavement, and then you decided to flip the coin, the person you don't like would fall over that crack." He opened a folding picture frame, putting it back almost immediately when he saw it contained nothing of value. "Essentially it can take any choice and give you the outcome you want as long as you flip the moment before the choice is made."

"Sounds useful."

"It is. Unfortunately that's why men like Craven want it. There are lots of people who would happily exploit the coins' power in order to gain unfair wealth and influence. Because of this the Sanctuary took possession of the coin back in the nineteen twenties and kept it in the Repository. It was a stroke of luck that it was moved before the Desolation Engine went off." He sighed as he came to the end of the shelf with no luck. "Unfortunately now it would seem Craven plans to sell it to the highest bidder." Valkyrie looked around pointedly and arched an eyebrow.

"He doesn't seem short of money."

"The thing about rich people is that eventually they become so obssessed with money that nothing is ever enough. Craven Thorn is no different." They abandoned the shelves at the same time and crossed to the desk, searching through everything together. "As soon as we get the coin we go arrest him and leave."

"Sounds like a plan. I can't wait to take off this stupid facade," she replied. They continued looking for a few more minutes in silence, and then Skulduggery's head flicked up in the direction of the door.

"Someone's coming." Valkyrie looked around for somewhere to hide, but there was nowhere despite the huge size of the ridiculous study. She looked at her partner for answers but he just shrugged. She made an exasperated noise as footsteps sounded outside the door, her heart hammering in her ears.

"Don't punch me," she warned, and then she grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him close, pressing her lips against his. He grunted in surprise, but then his arms came around her and he leaned into it, catching on quickly. He backed her up against the desk, one hand rising to tangle in her hair while the other pressed against the small of her back, keeping her close to him. She vaguely registered the sound of the handle turning, but she was too caught up in the kiss to care. She'd never been kissed like that in her life. And then Skulduggery broke it off and stepped back, turning to find a steward standing in the door with wide eyes.

"Sorry," Skulduggery said. "We wanted to find somewhere quiet." Valkyrie thought his voice sounded uneven, rougher than his usual velvety tones. "I realise we're being incredibly rude."

"It's alright, I understand. Though I will have to ask you to rejoin the party." The steward smiled awkwardly and gestured for them to go. Valkyrie followed Skulduggery in silence as they headed back to the ballroom. When the steward was gone and they were surrounded by people again, he spoke.

"I found it."

"Where?"

"Under a paperweight," he replied. "In plain sight."

"It's like he doesn't know that people would be happy to kill him for it."

"Quentin is an arrogant man." Skulduggery's words were stilted as he spoke. He typed a message out on his phone and slipped it back into his pocket. "The Cleavers will be here soon. Let's go arrest him."

"Ah, the fun part," she grinned. Skulduggery turned away without answering, drawing the revolver from his jacket and keeping it low. They caught Quentin in the middle of chatting with several women who had all had quite a lot to drink.

"Quentin Thorn," Skulduggery said conversationally. "How nice to finally meet you." He shook the man's hand, receiving a mildly confused greeting in response.

"Do I know you?"

"You will," Skulduggery replied. "Might I have a moment alone?" The three women frowned, but left as requested.

"What do you want?"

"My name is Skulduggery Pleasant, and this is my associate Valkyrie Cain. You might have heard of us."

"Gods, you're going to arrest me at my own party?" His bronze skin paled immediately and he ran a hand through his hair, dislodging the neat side part.

"Yes," Valkyrie answered immediately. "Now you can come quietly or we can make a scene and let all your lovely guests know what a dirty criminal you are. The choice is yours." Quentin looked like he was about to argue, but then he glanced around the hall at his guests, and he looked at the revolver hidden from everyone but him and he sagged.

"I choose the quiet way."

"Smart choice," she nodded. They led him to a quieter area where he couldn't be seen and Valkyrie produced the binding cuffs from the clutch bag over her shoulder, snapping them around his wrists.

"Quentin Thorn, using the power bestowed upon me by the Arbiter Corps and the Irish Sanctuary, I'm placing you under arrest. Is there anything you'd like to say in your defence?" Skulduggery asked. He whimpered and the detective nodded. "I'll take that as a no. The Cleavers are on their way here now." Quentin sank to the ground and sat like a scolded child, his bottom lip trembling as he waited for the Cleavers to cart him off. When they arrived two of them hooked an arm under his elbows and carried him off. Skulduggery gave the coin to one of the others, instructing them to return it to the Sanctuary immediately. When they left he led Valkyrie out to the car without a word.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly as they reached the Bentley. "I panicked." He waited for her to continue. "I didn't mean to kiss you. Well I did but you know what I mean. It's probably gonna be really awkward now because I got carried away." He arched an eyebrow at her.

"It did take me by surprise. But if anybody owes an apology it's me. I got carried away. Pushing you against the desk was disrespectful."

"...You did?" She tugged the necklace away from her throat, letting the facade disappear. "You mean it wasn't an act?" He said nothing, his only reaction being the slight ridge that formed between his eyebrows. "Did you...like it?" Again he stayed silent. "Say something."

"What would you like me to say?"

"I don't know." She chewed her lip nervously. "Did you like it?"

"Does it matter?"

"Of course it matters."

"Why?"

"Don't ask me another question without answering my question," she retorted.

"Fine. Yes." She felt her eyes widen in surprise, and her stomach did a strange, giddy little flip.

"So did I," she answered quietly. Skulduggery's head tilted as he watched her.

"Why does it matter?" His voice was softer, almost careful.

"I..." She looked away. "I'm not sure."

"Valkyrie, look at me." She did as he asked, working hard to keep her face neutral. "Did you want to do it?"

"...Maybe." Her neutral expression failed miserably, making way for the blush rising up her throat and pooling in her cheeks. Skulduggery said nothing as he digested her answer.

"You're aware I'm a skeleton, yes?"

"Obviously."

"I'm also several centuries older than you."

"I know."

"And you don't care?" She shook her head. "Alright." He closed the gap between them and touched her cheek gently. Her heart pounded in her ears as he bent his head slowly, tilting her chin upwards. He gave her plenty of chances to stop him. She didn't, so he kissed her. This time it was slow and sweet, just deep enough to make her dizzy. She melted against him, linking her hands behind his neck as he pulled her close. It was over too soon, and then he looked at her and he smiled in a way she'd never seen before.

"What?" she asked, fighting a smile of her own.

"You have no idea how many times I've wanted to do that, Valkyrie Cain."

oO0Oo