Stuck: Chapter Six...
A long time coming, chapter six is finally here! Sorry about my horrendously long hiatus, covid/life/family/work etc, etc, have pulled me away from my writing for far too long. Thank you to those who are happy to still give me a chance :)
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"Last time you were here you punched me in the face and now you expect me to help you again?" Solomon sat in his chair behind the glass desk, dressed all in black. One of his eyes was slightly swollen, darkened by a bruise that spread across his cheekbone.
"You don't usually mind helping us after Skulduggery punches you."
"It wasn't him that punched me last time." Solomon arched an eyebrow.
"No, it was me. Because you were an ass," Valkyrie retorted, folding her arms across her chest. "Now we're investigating the kidnapping of someone that could need our help, and to do that we need your help."
"I'm not feeling very helpful." Solomon leaned back in his chair. Valkyrie scowled.
"I'm sorry I punched you. Will you please help us?" she asked through gritted teeth. The Necromancer considered her for a moment before smiling.
"Who could resist such a sincere apology? Of course, I want something in return as always."
"What is it that you want?" Skulduggery asked. He was also dressed in black, with a deep purple shirt and a dark tie. The deep colours offset nicely against his two-toned eyes.
"Information. Satisfy my curiosity and I'll help you however I can." Valkyrie watched as Solomon looked Skulduggery up and down.
"Alright. What do you want to know?" the detective replied, cocking his head to the side.
"Nothing too intrusive. I just want to know why you're alive all of a sudden." Valkyrie's eyebrows rose towards her hairline. Of course he knew; he was a Necromancer. He could sense death and Skulduggery was no longer dead.
"Unfortunately I can't answer that because I'm not sure how, exactly."
"I'll settle for a recount of what happened," Solomon said, his smile growing wider. Skulduggery slipped his hands into his pockets, dipping his head so the rim of his hat obscured his expression for a moment.
"Alright," he nodded, looking back up once his decision was made. "We found what we thought was Vaurien Scapegrace in the Sanctum you sent us to. We took her away from there and got her in the car and she...melted."
"Melted?"
"Yep. All over the back seats of the Bentley," Valkyrie said. "We got out and the goo came with us and turned into a person."
"It what?" Solomon blinked in surprise.
"The person we thought was Vaurien was actually a physical manifestation of the goddess Nocturne disguised as her." Solomon stayed silent, the same surprised expression still on his face, so Skulduggery continued speaking. "She didn't tell us why she was posing as Vaurien or why she was interested in us specifically."
"She kissed Skulduggery and when she pulled away he had a beating heart in his chest again," Valkyrie finished. "He's had a full physical examination and a round of blood tests and the Sanctuary doctor has confirmed it."
"Incredible," Solomon murmured.
"I know, I can't believe anyone wanted to kiss him either."
"Charming," Skulduggery muttered.
"You're telling me that not only is Nocturne real, she has the power to reverse death altogether?" Solomon leaned forward in his seat.
"It seems that way. We don't know if it's temporary or if this is just how I am now," Skulduggery answered.
"Well, that was far more interesting than I expected it to be. Thank you for indulging me."
"Will you tell us where the Scribe's second Sanctum is now?" Valkyrie asked hopefully.
"There's a rumour that it's somewhere near the base of Croagh Patrick mountain. There's a town about ten miles away from it called Mulranny. That's going to be the best place to start." He paused for a moment. "I don't know how you'll get into the Sanctum. If the rumours are true it's been sealed up for centuries. You should try finding Morrigan Fell. He was one of the Scribes a while back, started off in our Temple and converted not long after he arrived. I haven't seen him in well over fifty years though."
"Thank you," Skulduggery said.
"My pleasure. If you feel as forthcoming when you return, please tell me what you find there." Skulduggery cocked his head as he appraised the Necromancer before he turned and left without a word. Valkyrie followed behind him as they made their own way to the Temple exit.
"Mulranny is three and a half hours away without traffic. It's on the opposite coast," Valkyrie said as they emerged into the cool air of early evening. "If we find Scapegrace that's a three and a half hour drive back here with her in the car."
"Yes it is."
"Can I bring ear plugs?"
"No."
"Can we put her in the boot?"
"No."
"Crap," she scowled. "When do we leave?"
"I need to alert the Sanctuary since we're currently licensed to work for China. Once I've done that we can go."
"And what if we find it and can't get in? What if we can't even find it?"
"Then we stay there until we do. We agreed to take responsibility for Vaurien." He took off his hat and brushed a speck of lint from the brim before placing it back on his head. "We also don't know what sort of threat Nocturne poses yet. She could be dangerous."
"I'll see if Mulranny has a bed and breakfast," Valkyrie said, taking out her phone as they approached the Bentley and climbed in. "If there's a chance we might be there for a few days we should grab some clothes." Skulduggery nodded and started the engine, pulling away from the cemetery and sliding back into the light traffic with ease.
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The scenery on the way to Murrisk was beautiful. Valkyrie loved Ireland but she rarely had the time to enjoy it. Ever since coming back from America her life had been one insane case after another. She enjoyed it, but she was grateful for the chance to pause and take a breath for a few hours.
"Did you manage to find somewhere to stay?"
"Yeah, there was a twin room available at a little Bed and Breakfast in Mulranny. I couldn't get another room because it's tourist season so you'll have to make do with sharing."
"That's fine. It's better than sleeping in the car."
"How much further?"
"You've asked me that question every ten minutes for the last hour. If you ask me it one more time I'm going to stop the car and make you walk."
"Sorry." Silence settled around them for several minutes before Skulduggery sighed.
"Why are you staring at me?"
"I miss your skull."
"What an odd thing to say."
"It's true. I got used to it. Your new face is nice and all, it's just weird to know you can't just get rid of it whenever you want anymore."
"That's funny. It's not strange for me at all."
"It's not?" His head swivelled to look at her in disbelief for a moment.
"Of course it is. How could it not be?"
"You're in a bad mood. What's the matter?" He stayed silent for a while before he finally answered.
"I'm worried."
"What about?"
"I think there's a reason Nocturne changed me. Something other than doing it on a whim."
"You've been thinking about it?"
"Yes. I think she did it to weaken me intentionally."
"Why?" Valkyrie frowned.
"The only things she commented on about the two of us were that you used to be Darquesse and that I am Lord Vile. She's planning something and she used Vaurien to draw us in so that she could do what she wanted to do."
"And by giving you life again she's massively weakened your Necromancy," Valkyrie said softly. "So with Darquesse gone and Vile no longer at full strength she has nobody to stand in the way of whatever she's trying to do."
"Exactly. We need to get into the Sanctum and see what we can find. If Nocturne is plotting something that would force Lord Vile to try and stop her then it definitely can't be good."
"This is starting to sound a lot like it has the potential to become a world-ending-catastrophe type threat," Valkyrie frowned. "The kind that makes you do stupid things."
"Indeed it does."
"Please don't die on me. I've only just got my head straight. I don't need you to mess it up again by getting yourself killed."
"Are you suggesting that losing me would send you spiralling into depression again?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Valkyrie answered.
"I'm flattered." She resisted the urge to elbow him. "I'll be careful."
"Last night you told me you wouldn't hesitate to die for me if it was inevitable."
"Valkyrie, it's always been inevitable."
"What?" She frowned, missing his meaning. His fingers tightened fractionally on the wheel before relaxing again.
"I'm under no illusions that I have a peaceful end waiting for me. After everything I've done it would be the last thing I deserve." He glanced at her for a second before returning his eyes to the road. "Now more than ever, I absolutely believe that I will die trying to keep you alive."
"You've gotten seriously maudlin over the last few days."
"My entire life has changed."
"That's not true. We're still in the Bentley on our way to yet another probably insane case as always. I'm still your beautiful, hilarious and very entertaining partner and you're still the famous Skulduggery Pleasant. Your suits are just as sharp and your ego is just as big as always." She tried a smile. "All that's changed is there's now a beating heart in your chest."
"I suppose I do still have an excellent dress sense," he conceded, lips twitching in the ghost of a smile.
"Exactly! Life may be temporary but style is forever," she grinned. That did make him laugh, his confident cheer returning at last.
"It's good to have you back, Valkyrie." His eyes were on the road as he drove but his smile was warm and genuine.
"I know," she beamed. "You're lost without me."
"Yes," he replied gently. "Yes I most certainly am."
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