Valkyrie tried to keep the nagging voice at the back of her right where it was; at the very, very back. She could not tolerate it's constant doubts. She couldn't stand that she agreed with it.
You don't belong here.
They are only taking you back because they feel sorry for you.
They don't love you.
He doesn't love you.
Were you really expecting them to just take you back?
You were stupid.
Ignorant.
You left while they were bleeding out.
You abandoned them when they needed you.
You walked out.
You let her win.
Sure, she didn't destroy the world.
But she certainly destroyed you.
Valkyrie closed her eyes, opened them, and stared out the window.
"What do you think the invitation means? Who is Macon? Why were we given one?" Skulduggery was saying. Valkyrie looked down at the white, elegant piece of paper in her hand. She didn't know, was the short answer. They were driving to the Sanctuary to meet Dexter and Ezra. They pulled up and walked in, greeting Tipstaff as they were guided to see the Elders.
They were a very pretty trio of Elders, Valkyrie had to say. China Sorrows was beautiful, as always. She looked like a more sinister version of Snow White, her blue eyes cold and bemused, her dark hair perfectly fell, her skin porcelain. She was wearing a dark blue silk shirt with a perfectly fitting grey skirt, and black high heels with blue accents coming through as the light shifted. A sapphire pendant hung in the hollow of her throat. Milo Banks was still as sensual looking as Valkyrie remembered, his grey eyes kind, his black hair dishevelled. He wore thick-framed glasses, and Valkyrie recalled him being an inventor. He was wearing black skinny jeans, a white t-shirt and a leather jacket. He gave her a half smile, and even though she wasn't interested in him, and even though he was gay, Valkyrie's heart skipped a beat as she dumbly smiled back. The other woman, Lila Oo, looked serene. She had blonde hair, with dark grey streaks combing through it. She had kind brown eyes, and a warm smile. Her skin looked like it was about to wrinkle, but wasn't quite there yet. She had on a flowing beige dress, with vibrant flowers crawling upwards until they sparsely decorated her empire line and up. A thick gold band adorned her middle finger. Ezra and Dexter seated already. Dexter looked pale, almost grey, dark bags under his hazel eyes. His easy going smile was gone, replaced with a forced, tight smile. His hands were shaking. His blonde hair looked as if he had been tugging it all morning. Ezra was looking at him, concerned and helpless looking. Her gold hair was in a pony-tail, but it was too short and most of the hair had fallen out of the hairband, but she either hadn't noticed or didn't care. Skulduggery and Valkyrie sat down.
"It's good to see you, Valkyrie." China said, smiling. Valkyrie smiled in return. "It's good to be back." She replied, clamping the little voice in her head.
"My name is Lila Oo. It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard a lot about you, dear." Said the stranger. She sounded like she should be baking cookies. Valkyrie nodded her greetings. Milo just smiled at her again.
"Now that we are all here, let this meeting officially begin. Miss Bloom or Mr Vex, will you please tell us why we are here on such short notice." Grand Mage Sorrows insisted. Vex didn't acknowledge his name being spoken. Bloom cleared her throat.
"Last night, Hades came to see us." She took a shaky breath and closed her eyes. She opened them again. "He said that they aren't his Demons."
"Then who's are they?" Pleasant asked.
"A man called Macon's. Hades doesn't like him."
"So he will help us?" Elder Banks asked as Pleasant said "We received an invitation from a Macon."
Bloom shook her head. So Macon knew about Pleasant and Cain.
"No." She said in a small voice, promising herself to go back to invites. "Quite the oppsoite. He said that we have until the New Year to kill him."
"And if you don't?" Elder Oo questioned.
"Then he drags us down." She said, barely above a whisper. She didn't need to elaborate. They all understood.
"Okay, who is this Macon? I've never heard of him." Grand Mage Sorrows pointed out. Cain didn't think it possible, but Bloom's shoulders slumped even more.
"Macon is... Macon is Mr Vex's father." She said, biting her lip and looking away as Vex winced. There was a heavy, thick silence as everyone registered this information.
"What of this invitation, Mr Pleasant?" Grand Mage Sorrows queeried.
"Last night. At about 3.30am. I received an invitation for a Black Ribbon Masquerade Ball."
"Me too." Cain chipped in, sliding her's on the table. Bloom took out the little white piece of card and set it on the wooden table as well.
"So, this guy is walking in and thinking he can kick up a storm? Why? Why now? Why has he been after Ez- Miss Bloom?" Cain asked.
"Because He hates her because He thinks she took me from Him." Vex said, his voice harsh, his eyes staring blankly at the table.
"Do we go?" Cain asked, trying to forget the dead, defeated look plastered on Vex's face.
"I don't see how we have another choice." Elder Oo said.
"You won't be going in alone. I'll make some things. Masquerade, huh? Good thing there will be masks." Elder Banks said, taking out a little A5 notepad and scribbling in it.
"I've been having dreams." Vex blurted out. Everyone stared at him, including Bloom. "They're of him... doing terrible things to me. They were just nightmares at first but now... Well." He stood up and slipped of his jacket. He passed it to Ezra who wordlessly held it, her hands wringing the fabric. Then took of his shirt and turned around. There were gasps as everyone looked. On his tanned, toned back were lacerations. Three, going from the top of his spine, to the top of his waistband. Ragged and red and raw. He put his shirt and jacket back on and sat heavily in the chair.
"He's a Dream Jumper." Pleasant said.
"What the hell does that mean?" Elder Banks asked.
"It means he can kill us in our own heads." Pleasant said slowly, looking in turn at everyone in the room.
Thank you for reading my lovelies!
