Chapter 200
Valkyrie's POV
Intense, awful, mind-shattering pain. It was utter torture like nothing she'd ever experienced before, more than Serpine and more than Remnant-Kenspeckle combined, and she hated every second of it. There was no room in her brain for thoughts of anyone, of any breathing technique or comforting thought. Just pure pain. Her body writhed and thrashed on the cold floor and she wasn't even strong enough to force herself to run or ask for help.
She just had to lie there, convulsing, frothing at the mouth, eyes rolled back into her head like it was some awful seizure.
Suffering.
.*****.
Tanith's POV
Pippin Black, possible leader of the Wild Brothers. The only one, they now knew, no one had ever captured on camera or film, much less arrested. No one had lived through it yet.
Around him, eight men and one person. They had thought for a time Black was a misogynistic man, someone vile and horrible that Tanith could add to the long list of sexist men she'd had to deal with. It turned out he was exactly those things, but he also valued gender expression, and his closest partner-in-crime was a non-binary person. Who was also misogynistic. Tanith had never had to arrest a sexist non-binary person, but she didn't mind adding variety to her day considering, according to the prison talk they'd found out, both Black and all the people he brought in to work with the Wild Brothers were chosen specifically for their shared values on women, children and torture techniques.
All their attitudes sucked, essentially, and she'd be thankful for a chance to take them out.
"Tan," Saracen said lowly. Tanith looked down at him from her perch on a wall looking out of a window that had likely never had a pane in it. "Ready?"
She nodded once and prepared herself. They were on the border between Sudan and Libya, called by the Sudanian Sanctuary when the five of the previously captured Wild Brothers had been picked up on security tapes based on Frightening's description. The same five that had taken the God-Killer Sword two or so months ago. There should have been video footage of the leader then, but he'd sent someone in his place to mask his lack of involvement. Not that the English told anyone the Wild Brother's had been in their Sanctuary.
They didn't have the Sword with them, but they had expected that.
The Wild Brothers walked like the cockiest men Tanith had ever seen, perfectly fitting the stereotype of what a mercenary should be. They all looked pale and had taken their shirts off to soak in the sun. Probably from being stuck in some Spiders hideout.
They were getting closer.
No one made a sound. They all held their breaths. Black froze fifty yards from the abandoned building. Tanith could just about see from her new perch on the roof where his boots stopped. The other men, and person, went silent as their boss considered whatever feeling he was having. Tanith readjusted her grip on the sword.
"INCOMING!" Someone from in the building screamed, and then there was a pop from a gun, a short fizzle, and an explosion.
Tanith threw herself out of the small window and fell to the floor, rolling in the hard sand before coming to a stop not far from the Wild Brothers as the building exploded into flames behind her. She didn't think as she threw herself into the fight, gutting the nearest man with her sword.
.*****.
Nadia's POV
"What is it, honey?" Nadia asked sweetly. "Are you hung-y?"
Laila looked at her and squealed loudly without giving any indication of what she wanted. Nadia looked to Ghastly. "Any ideas?"
"She just wants Tanith," he said tiredly. "She keeps spitting out the bottle and I don't think she likes the taste of the new formula for her age bracket. And the new reusable nappies she got don't fit her legs right."
He closed his eyes and appeared ready to pass out. Nadia hummed and looked back at the baby. At six and a half months, she enjoyed sitting alone and didn't need any cushions to keep her upright anymore, she could move her head around and follow people with her eyes and was beginning to gain some good strength and hand to eye coordination. She'd also been reluctantly forced onto her belly, put herself into the prime pose of hands and knees to begin crawling, and then put her feet in the air while her knees stayed on the floor and just sort of jig. No quite moving yet, but she was getting there.
"You'd think it wouldn't be separation anxiety considering she has multiple food sources, so to speak, and she's well bonded with everyone around her."
"Must be the milk then."
"Maybe she's getting teeth?" Nadia wondered, but didn't check. She didn't want to get up quite yet to wash her hands. "Why are you being so naughty, miss? Hmm? You're a naughty baby."
Laila looked at her with her big eyes, still baby blue, and then looked at her father who she'd kept awake all night and the night before while her mother rested.
"Laila!" Erskine squealed, getting the baby's attention. Laila's face split into a big gummy grin and she held her arms out for Erskine to take her. He scooped her up and kissed her all over. "Who's the bestest baby in the whole world? Who's the prettiest and the smartest? You, that's who!"
"Please shut up," Ghastly begged, getting back to his sewing. "Nadia, could you get me the box of silver threads?"
She got up and found the box in its organised place within the front area of Ghastly's shop. She brought it back.
"Pick one out."
"What's it for?"
"A pattern on the front, floral. It'll have clear sequins."
Nadia looked within and found a pretty one that was all silver and no grey and gave that to him.
"Thanks." He sighed deeply. "Not long until Valkyrie and Solomon are back."
"I know, but it's been so long," she muttered. "One and a half months. And they said it would take two months tops, but we've heard nothing."
"That makes sense. They wouldn't send a message or it'd be like sending a flare gun right at The Torment blaring their location," he told her. "Even if they needed help, it would be safer to remain hidden and in danger than send for help and have every enemy we possibly have, and some criminals that just want some fun, home in on them. It's too risky. And it puts more people in danger."
"Makes sense," she muttered, taking her seat again as Erskine took Laila upstairs to give a bath after noticing she'd done a particularly nasty poop. Probably went with Ghastly's theory of her hating the formula. Maybe it was making her sick. Could she be allergic? "Have you heard from the Sanctuary?"
"I'll tell you when I do," he said softly but firmly. She'd been asking him a lot for any report on Tanith, Saracen and Dexter's mission in Sudan. "Anton's turning off the Hotel. Did I tell you that?"
"I heard people wondering if he should do it. Too many criminals and enemies are in Ireland as it is," she said darkly.
"Mm. He strongly believes in free travel around the world. Boarders encourage an 'us versus them' attitude, and that encourages territories, violence, racism, a breakdown in understanding of cultures. This is his way of helping that. It's something he feels very strongly about. But in this case, it stops criminals getting to Ireland. It also stops people getting out though. And it sends a message to other Sanctuaries. The Dead Men are preparing for war." He stopped to look at her seriously. "This is the last order I have and then I'll be closing the shop. It'll send the message we wanted to put off as long as possible. We may not be controlled by the Sanctuary in reality, but it's not what people will view this as."
"How long do we have now?"
"We had weeks before. It'll stay the same. The other Sanctuaries… they want this war. They want Ireland. There's no stopping it now, Nadia. I really feel you should reconsider staying here. You are such a big target right now. Nothing will ever stop you from coming back when it's over."
Nadia glared at him. "Not a chance."
"I know you feel passionately about this. But remember, if anything ever happens to you, Valkyrie will never forgive herself. She's lost too many loved one's to cope with losing you. Personally, I don't want another Skulduggery." He sighed softly and went back to sewing. "It is still you're choice. But I wanted to at least encourage you to think very carefully while you still have the chance. Soon, you won't have that luxury."
Nadia looked at the table and blinked slowly, knowing it was the smart and mature thing to do as he said even if she didn't change her mind. It was too heavy of a topic though, one she only wanted to have one feeling and thought about because it just made her life easier to not consider other options.
She was saved by the bell and got up to check the front door for Ghastly.
She stared.
"Nadia."
She tried to think but couldn't get anything out.
"It's… good to see you again. I hope this isn't too out of the blue," he said quietly, almost a whisper. "I am… truly sorry for what I've put you through. I would understand if you don't feel you can forgive me. But I would very much like to try and earn your apology."
Nadia swallowed and sat shakily on the small armchair. "Ghastly," she croaked out.
A moment went by and Ghastly came through the door and froze as well before sighing deeply and shaking his head. "Skulduggery," he said, going to him. "Old friend."
They embraced tightly.
.*****.
Valkyrie's POV
Eight hours, they said it took. Eight hours of torturous pain. She was covered in sweat, had clawed at her arms, made herself bleed. It hadn't mattered as the signals had taken effect and were as good as worthless the moment they sunk in at the start of the Ritual. She'd wet herself, and laid in it, a few times over.
Despite the mess, Valkyrie could vaguely recall Solomon going to her when the pain suddenly, sharply vanished. That had been so frightening. She'd thought she died, too weak to continue. But no, it had been his voice, his hand softly stroking her hair. He had washed her off in the privacy of the shower block while everyone else ate, dried and dressed her, and put her into her bed.
She clung to him now, her hands shaking slightly. "Is it done? Did I do it?"
"Yes, honey, it's all done now," he said softly. He was on his knees beside her bed and held her gently. "You're all done here. Your magic is sealed. The Ritual went well."
She said nothing for a long moment. "Good."
"Try to sleep," he whispered, stroking a thumb over her eyebrow.
She closed her eyes obediently. "Solomon, when this is done," she said slowly, clutching his shirt tightly, "will you adopt me?"
There was a longer pause where she might have fallen asleep, and then she heard his voice again. "Let's talk when you're rested. Sleep, now."
Oh ma gowd
Be honest - how many of you thought this was going to happen?
ValkyrieP: I know, and then I waited, like a week to post again! A weapon of mass destruction could be cool, I don't want to give her plot power (like plot armour) but I feel like I may end up doing that if I'm not careful. Then again, for fanfiction, I think you might forgive me and let me create a fun character to read haha! Still need to decide, but it's good to have opinions to help. What do you think of Val's question to Solomon?
Remus Crux: Tanith would have been a half-assed tutor. She is not a bodyguard, she is not a babysitter, she is not super maternal. She makes it work, but she definitely would not be a good tutor except for the areas she's personally interested! She forgot about the nakedness immediately don't worry. PS everyone saw her pee herself like six times.
