Chapter 6

Thurs 28th July

The need Valkyrie had inside her for something minty was almost overpowering.

"This sucks," she muttered.

"What's that?" Skulduggery asked.

"I want something minty."

"Check the kitchen."

"I already did, you have nothing like that."

"That's too bad."

"It really is," she sighed, rubbing her eyes. She could feel a headache coming on, a pressure in the back of her skull, and pulled a leaf out. Even that wasn't minty, though it looked sort of like a mint leaf.

"Well," he said, putting the paper down and standing. "It's almost time for our meeting. We should get going."

She followed him out. He drove them to the city. They were halfway to the High Sanctuary when she started to feel it. The tightening of her heart, the sudden sweating. She needed to get out.

"Stop the car," she demanded.

"What?"

"Stop. I want to get out. I need to."

He pulled over the moment there was space in the traffic, went down a short street and into a parking space. She jumped out quickly and shook her arms out.

"Valkyrie?" He asked, following her out.

"I'm sorry. I don't think I can go to the meeting," she said, feeling as her heart started racing wildly. She wondered if he could see it.

"That's fine, I can do it myself. Are you okay though? You look pale."

"I'm just not feeling well suddenly. I think I need some air."

"Alright," he said doubtfully. "I need to get going. Are you sure you'll be alright?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I'll go get something to eat and sit down. I'll be fine."

"Call me when you need picking up," he said, getting back in the car.

She watched him get in and get back into traffic before she let out a sigh she didn't realise she was holding. The racing in her heart lessened but now she had the new issue of being in Roarhaven with no way home and a head full of fuzz.

She started walking towards the nice, touristy area of the city. There would be people, but at three in the afternoon she figured it wouldn't be too bad.

It was a warm day so she shrugged off her jacket, having to yank it off her biceps, and wrapped it around her hips as she walked. There were people on every street and trams running through the middle of the road between cars full of people. Every so often she'd see someone notice her and stare or sneer. She was getting used to it now, even if it wasn't fun to have constantly happen.

There was a small park near Meritorious Square Valkyrie had found a few weeks ago called Bespoke Park. The first time she'd seen the sign she'd walked away, gone home and broke down sobbing. She'd been a few times since, on cases and chasing criminals, but this was the first time she'd come just because she wanted to.

Around the park were shops, rows of various trees, and streetlights. Black iron and wood benches were dotted around, people sitting and eating or talking on them. It was a nice area. In the park was a small gazebo for events, picnic benches, a few statues of dead mages she hadn't dared to inspect, and more trees and shrubs around pathways. It was nice.

She found a coffee shop and went in, waited in line, ordered an iced coffee and a sandwich. She got a vague look of interest from the barista but she didn't seem to care less about Valkyrie. Everyone else she ignored.

She went outside with it since it was a nice day and spotted a picnic bench far from the statues and sat there, back to them. She wasted ten minutes eating her sandwich before pulling out her phone and texting Skulduggery.

'How's the meeting?'

Two minutes later, she had a reply. 'Good so far. Yonder didn't turn up.'

'Suspicious or just nice?'

'Both, but I don't care about it being suspicious.'

'What a treat.'

'It is. China is looking at me.'

'Probably because you have your phone out in a meeting.'

'Likely. She asked where you were.'

'What did you say?'

'I said you were busy. She was annoyed.'

'Oops.'

'Quite. I should probably go. Have you found something to do?'

'I'm in Bespoke Park.' She sent a second text quickly after: 'I had lunch.'

'I have to go, China is glaring.'

Valkyrie sighed and looked around, sipped her drink and felt bored.

Her phone buzzed again and she checked it, finding a text from her mother instead of her partner. She debated opening it for a moment, and then bit the bullet.

'Just got in from the school run! Alice made this for you!' And there was a photo of a drawing Alice had done, of four people. Two taller stick figures with skirts, a normal stick figure and a little stick figure in a skirt. There was a little brown dog figure too, a sun in the corner, some birds and a blue sky and some green grass. It was cute and sweet and it was nice that Alice knew about her and cared to draw her a picture. It also made her stomach roll with guilt. Guilt of what she'd done and her family didn't know about, guilt over not talking to them while her mother was trying to keep her involved. She didn't deserve to be involved but she also desperately wanted it.

She debated what to send back for a few minutes before settling on, 'Cute!' and closing the chat so she didn't have to see it anymore.

The sickness didn't leave her at all. In fact, without anything to think over, she found herself falling quickly towards dangerous thinking territory – reliving hurting Alice, missing her parents, lying to them, the night they had ended up in Roarhaven.

She opened her phone again and looked through her contacts. She almost texted Skulduggery to come get her, but then closed that chat. Then her finger hovered over Tanith's name but she couldn't bear to do it, couldn't bear to have her not answer or tell her to not call her again. She scrolled away so she didn't have to look at the name. Really, that left her with only one other person.

She opened Militsa's contact and began trying to write a message. At first it was just going to be 'Hey,' but that was too open ended and she didn't like it, so she thought about asking her about her day, but that was too much, and then she almost put her phone away. Growling to herself, she sent her a simple message.

'Hi, when do you finish work?'

She wasn't expecting a reply so was surprised when she got one. 'Hi! I finish at 3.45! What are you thinking?'

What was she thinking? She was thinking she'd rather be anywhere but Bespoke Park.

She didn't text that, just got up, threw her rubbish away and decided to go on a walk. She wasn't far from Corrival and figured she could meet Militsa and that would keep her mind from her thoughts while Skulduggery attended their meeting.

As she strolled, she texted Militsa back. 'Just going for a walk in Roarhaven.'

'Cool! I'm in class!'

'Are you teaching?'

'Last test of the year! A little more marking and I'll be done. Only today and tomorrow left and school is out!'

She let some cars go and cross the road before texting her back. 'LOL, nice. Looking forward to time off?'

'Yeah, but I have another week or two of work, bunch of end of year meetings, prep for next year, all that stuff. Then I get proper time off! We should do something!'

She forced herself to reply positively. 'Sure. What were you thinking?'

She had to wait far longer for a reply this time. She was almost outside the entrance for Corrival Academy when another came through. 'Sorry, student was asking questions. We could go dancing, if you like? There's a band tribute at The Coinín Beag!'

'What are they tributing?'

'Florence + The Machine. Gotta love a fierce redhead ;).'

She grimaced. That wasn't her type of music. 'If I'm free, sure. I've got some cases so we'll see.' She knew full well she wouldn't be going to that.

She didn't get another text, but it had turned three forty, so she expected Militsa was finishing up in class.

Only a few minutes later, students began pouring out. She didn't pay them any mind but she did notice, it began clawing at her, when the whispers began. Their voices, the sheer amount from hundreds of students, blurred into a dull roar. She could barely tell what was whispering and what was the buzzing in her ears.

Very suddenly, her heart rate picked up. She knew she couldn't stay there, knew she was on borrowed time now, and walked quickly down the street away from the school. She had no idea if she was red or pale, but she knew she was incredibly lightheaded and that there was a horde of students following her.

Instead of waiting, she collected her magic as best she could and shot into the air above the buildings. In only a few seconds, she was at the High Sanctuary. She used her badge to get into the parking lot and found the Bentley.

"Oh my God," she breathed, sinking down to the floor, her back against the driver's door. Panic gripped her as her throat began to contract.

"No," she gasped. "No, no, no, don't. Calm down. Nothing's here. Nothing's happening. Stop." She gasped once more and then ground her teeth and screamed.

She was lucky no one came into the lot for the next few minutes as she hit her head against the Bentley's door and she shook and gasped. When it finally started to fade, she'd sweated through her top almost completely and her throat was dry.

The door to the garage opened. It was Skulduggery. She jumped up despite her still shaking knees and rushed to stand on her side of the car.

"You're here," he stated.

"Yeah." He opened the car and she got straight into her side. "How was the meeting?"

"It was dull. There's a big case to deal with but nothing we can't handle. Cleavers are on standby if we need them."

She just nodded and closed her eyes, letting him take her wherever they were going.

Oh my gosh this poor woman doesn't get a break.