Stuck: Chapter Six...

I'm aware it's been a really long time since I wrote anything on here but after some recent positive reviews I decided to come back and see if I could successfully pick up where I left off. Here goes!

oO0Oo

"So where do you think we'll find Morrigan?" Valkyrie asked as she lounged on the bed.

The room was small but homely, with handmade patchwork quilts and lots of exposed wood. The staff at the Bed and Breakfast had booked them into a double room when Valkyrie had requested a twin and she worried that Skulduggery might have trouble sleeping if they had to share a bed. She didn't want to be responsible for keeping him awake when he'd only just regained the opportunity to sleep.

"I'm not sure." Skulduggery took off his hat and turned his gaze to the window where the sun was beginning to set behind a low mountain range in the distance. Valkyrie wondered idly if Croagh Patrick was hidden among them. "I was planning on spending the first day looking around. We might get lucky and stumble across something that could lead us to him."

"Do you think it's worth looking around the mountain to see if we can find the entrance to the sanctum? If we can't find Morrigan at least we might know where we're going."

"And how would we get in? There's no point going there and risking revealing ourselves if we can't even open it," he replied. Valkyrie frowned and stared up at the ceiling, linking her hands behind her head.

"I don't suppose Nocturne endowed you with a talent for opening hidden doors when she gave you a beating heart?"

"No. That talent came from being sneaky and I've been sneaky for a very long time." He sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at the travel bag by his feet.

All of Skulduggery's suits had been specially tailored by Ghastly to fit his skeletal frame and give the illusion of mass. With his new living body he was too bulky for them even if the structure could be removed, so his case was full of new suits China had commissioned for him.

"Don't tell me you hate them already. You haven't even tried any of them on," Valkyrie pointed out, nudging him with her foot. "You know as well as I do that they'll look great if China picked them, and the one you have on now can't be comfortable."

"It's not that." His brow furrowed and she realised his concerns ran deeper than how he'd look in the new clothes.

"You want to wear what Ghastly made you," she murmured softly. "I know how it feels to grow out of something so irreplaceable." She sat up and laid a hand on his shoulder. "I kept my clothes even though I can't wear them. You should keep yours too."

"Of course I'm keeping them. We don't know if this is permanent and if I get rid of them all I don't know anyone else who can tailor more suits." She knew it was deeper than just not knowing another tailor but she let it slide.

"I guess that makes sense," she shrugged, sitting back against the pillows again. He turned his head to survey the bed and his frown deepened.

"I thought you said you booked a twin room."

"I did. The hotel staff made a mistake with the booking and couldn't change it."

"Why not?"

"It's tourist season, remember? It's a miracle we got a room at all." She grinned and waggled her eyebrows at him, portraying a confidence she didn't feel to try and ease his tension. "Lucky you, right?"

"Idiot," he replied, but he smiled and shook his head. "It's only for a few days. I'm sure we'll manage." He shifted uncomfortably. "I need to change out of this suit, it really doesn't fit me anymore." He'd already had to go without the jacket and his sleeves were unbuttoned and rolled up. The fabric strained over his shoulders and he could no longer fasten his top two buttons.

"You should wear the blue one," Valkyrie suggested as she leaned forwards to peer into his bag. He arched an eyebrow and obliged, heading into the bathroom to change.

Finally alone, she allowed herself a moment of panic while he couldn't see her. They were partners and friends and she trusted him with her life, but he was going through major turmoil and it was making him act differently.

When he'd spent the night in her home he'd pulled her close in a way he never had before. She knew it was for comfort, but she also knew it wasn't the way they behaved around one another. She didn't know if she was ready to address it and the thought of a repeat brought up feelings she didn't understand and didn't want to think about.

Skulduggery stepped out of the bathroom, pulling her out of her thoughts abruptly. The suit he wore was a rich deep blue, just a few shades brighter than navy and perfectly tailored to show off his new broad shoulders. His shirt was equally fitted and crisp white, offsetting nicely against his dark tie. A tan belt and matching shoes completed the ensemble and his blonde hair was swept back away from his face in soft waves.

"No hat?" she asked, sitting forwards and crossing her legs on the mattress.

"China decided I needed to enjoy having hair," he grumbled. Without his hat Valkyrie could see his hair was longer on top and swept into a fashionable side part. He still had a distinct rakish charm about him that she knew he'd never lose, but he looked so different. Apart from the high cheekbones and strong jaw, it was difficult to see the Skulduggery she knew.

"I hate to say it but China's right. Temporary or not, you need to enjoy your new opportunities." He rolled his eyes and cocked his head at her.

"Is that what you're going out in?"

"Is there something wrong with it?" She looked down at her dark jeans, heavy boots and leather jacket with a frown.

"Not at all, it just isn't very tourist-y." He had a point. She probably looked more likely to rob a tourist than be one herself. She sighed.

"Fine. I'll change too." She slid off the bed and grabbed the bag China had forced her to bring, rummaging through it until she found a pair of blue jeans and a soft white jumper. She changed in the bathroom, switching her heavy combat boots for a pair of fashionable pumps and fixing the brooch that activated her necronaut suit to her chest beneath her clothes. She braided her dark hair loosely over her shoulder and stepped out again.

"Much better, although I'm not sure where you're going to hide a weapon," Skulduggery mused as he tucked his revolver into his jacket.

"Don't need one. I have my lightning and my necronaut suit. If we have to fight anyone my clothes will burn up anyway," she shrugged. "Where are we headed first?"

"Nowhere in particular. I was hoping wandering around might offer us some inspiration."

"It's not like you to not have a plan," Valkyrie noted.

"It's not like me to have a beating heart either, yet here we are. Shall we?" He opened the door and gestured for her to leave first, bowing low enough to make her chuckle and roll her eyes.

"I'm starving. We should get dinner." Her stomach rumbled, emphasising her point. "And I'm assuming you can't tell when you're hungry?"

"I've been friends with you long enough to know what hungry sounds like even if I'm not sure how it feels."

"Let's go find somewhere we can get food and come up with some sort of plan. At the very least we need a cover in case our snooping makes anyone suspicious." She pulled out her phone and searched for restaurants in the area.

"Would we even get a reservation?" Skulduggery asked doubtfully. "You said yourself, it's tourist season."

"Hang on." Valkyrie tapped out a quick text to China and started walking, figuring they looked suspicious just standing in the hallway. As they walked Skulduggery started to run through everything they knew about Morrigan Fell.

"He hasn't been seen for fifty years at least as far as we know, which will present a problem because in fifty years he could have moved anywhere in the world."

"Unless he's still a psycho nut job in which case he probably stayed close to the sanctum, right?"

"Hopefully. I have no idea what he looks like and I'm fairly sure we won't be lucky enough to stumble across him wearing his robes on his way to open the secret door."

"A girl can dream though," Valkyrie sighed wistfully. Skulduggery shook his head.

"You can be so odd sometimes."

"Says the guy that has a spare head at home," she chuckled, and then she faltered and glanced at him. He raised both eyebrows at her.

"If you were anybody else I'd probably hit you for that," he remarked.

"But because I'm me you forgive me?" She fluttered her eyelashes at him dramatically. His answering eye roll was accompanied by a small smile that made her beam triumphantly.

"Only because you're you," he conceded. "I would appreciate it if perhaps you could try not to joke about my...predicament."

"Sorry. To be honest it just slipped out. I'm so used to teasing you about your predicament that it's become second nature. I'll reign it in a bit." He nodded his thanks and slipped his hands into his pockets.

"Where was I?"

"You were running through what we know about Morrigan. Do we have a last known location? Family or friends? Hell, I'd settle for a job he had twenty years ago at this rate."

"We know exactly nothing about him, his acquaintances or his whereabouts."

"Wonderful." Her stomach rumbled and she scowled. "I'm too hungry to be thinking about this." Before Skulduggery could reply, Valkyrie's phone pinged. She pulled it out and beamed at the screen.

"Do we have a lead?"

"Better. We have dinner." Skulduggery sagged.

"I swear I'm never taking another case with you again," he muttered mournfully. "Not unless you promise to keep a full stomach the entire time."

"I'm not the only one that needs to eat," she retorted. As if in agreement, Skulduggery's stomach let out a gurgle of its own. "See? Let's go. China got us reservations at a little restaurant in town." Before he could respond she was striding down the hall towards the lifts.

They stayed in companionable silence as they left the Bed and Breakfast, and Valkyrie had to stop herself gasping at the scenery. The sun cast hues of pink and soft orange across the surface of a vast lake, illuminating the water as though it were on fire. Alongside the lake lay the town of Mulranny, all narrow roads and stone buildings painted white. It looked like something that belonged on a postcard and there was even a beach.

"I almost wish we weren't on a case right now," she sighed. "This place is beautiful."

"Indeed it is." They walked down the hill to the edge of the lake, delaying their journey to the restaurant a while longer. The lake opened out into Clew Bay and a small causeway cut across it that Valkyrie made a beeline for. Part way across, the causeway changed from concrete to a wooden bridge structure. She stopped in the middle of it to look out at the water around her.

"I'll never get tired of seeing things like this," she murmured. "I missed Ireland so much when I was in America."

"It is beautiful," Skulduggery agreed. "And of course I wasn't in America so I can't imagine it was very interesting."

"Are you kidding? I had Xena and I was trained to fight by an ex-Cleaver. They were way more interesting than you," she teased.

"You still never told me how you found a Cleaver that managed to leave his job alive."

"I had my ways," she shrugged.

"By the way, who's looking after Xena while we stay here?"

"Tanith."

"You trust her to keep your dog alive?" he asked doubtfully.

"She's not an idiot, Skul," Valkyrie snorted. "Besides, Xena will let her know when it's dinner time if she forgets." She glanced at the time on her phone and sighed. "We should get going or we'll miss our reservation."

oO0Oo

The restaurant was inside a hotel that sat at the edge of the lake, and it's panoramic windows offered a perfect view of Croagh Patrick according to the waitress that seated them. When Valkyrie asked which one it was the waitress smiled and pointed to the highest peak.

"If you're planning on hiking it up there you'll want some good boots," she suggested, tucking a loose strand of auburn hair behind her ear. "There's a shop in town geared up for that sort of thing if you need directions."

"Thank you. It might be something we think about tomorrow, perhaps." Skulduggery's smile was warm and handsome enough to make the waitress blush.

"Of course," she simpered. "My name's Edith and I'll be your server this evening. Can I get you started with some drinks?" Skulduggery gestured to Valkyrie.

"Get whatever you'd like," he offered. She scanned the menu and glanced quickly around the restaurant. Everyone else was dressed nicely and sipping from wine glasses, so she chose a random bottle of white from the menu.

"Excellent choice sweetie," Edith crowed. "Now you two have a browse of the menu and I'll return with your drinks to take your order."

"I have no idea what to eat," Skulduggery said as soon as she left. "I don't even know what half of this stuff is." She realised that he'd probably never even been to a restaurant before, let alone read a menu.

"Do you want to play it safe or go for something completely different?" she asked.

"Different as in...?"

"Something that you might not like but want to try. Something I wouldn't normally order but always wanted to." She leaned forward eagerly.

"Hmm. Best to play it safe. I don't know how prone to being sick I am with this body." She nodded and scanned the menu.

"Seared monk fish or steak?"

"Fish. I'm reluctant to eat anything as heavy as steak until I know it isn't a mistake."

"Monk fish it is then," she nodded. "And of course we're getting dessert. You can't eat at a restaurant for the first time and not get dessert."

Edith returned with their wine in an ice bucket and took their orders, batting her eyelashes at Skulduggery again before leaving. He seemed oblivious as he poured the wine into two glasses.

"Have you ever had wine?" Valkyrie asked, keeping her voice low.

"A long, long time ago." He pitched his voice at the same level as hers to avoid being overheard. "Not long before Serpine got me, actually."

"I don't usually drink it but everyone else here is and I don't want to draw attention to us." She took a sip and had to avoid wrinkling her nose as the tangy liquid hit the back of her throat. "And I still won't drink it unless I have to after tonight."

"Hmm." He eyed the glass as though he expected the liquid to leap out and attack him.

"It's not going to hurt you."

"I know." He took a sip and Valkyrie stared. "You're still not over me being able to eat now, are you?"

"Nope. Do you like it?"

"It's better than I remember," he shrugged. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he answered it quietly, his brow furrowing as he listened. "Alright. Thank you, China."

"Anything important?"

"Yes, actually. I asked China to see what she could find out about Morrigan before we travelled here. She didn't find much but she did get me the name of his ex-wife."

"What is it?"

"Would you believe me if I said Edith?" Valkyrie's eyes widened.

"You're not serious. Our Edith? As in our waitress?"

"Possibly. I'm not sure how to get information out of her but one way or another, we have to know." He stopped talking as she returned with two steaming plates and set them down on the table.

"Now is there anything else I can get you two love birds?" she asked brightly, clearly fishing to see if Skulduggery was single. He didn't seem to notice but an idea lit up like a beacon in the back of Valkyrie's mind.

"Oh, we're not together," she beamed. "This is my cousin, Doug." He raised an eyebrow at her but stayed silent. "We don't need anything else right now but we'll be ordering dessert once we've finished."

"You just call me over when you're done, sweetie," she beamed, turning to give Skulduggery a pointed smile before hurrying away.

"Doug? Really?"

"I know how we're going to find out what we need to know," Valkyrie answered triumphantly.

"Are you going to tell me now or leave me in suspense?"

"You're going to flirt with the waitress." She speared a piece of her own monk fish while Skulduggery stared at her. "You should eat, it's wonderful."

"You're going to have to run that by me again."

"The monk fish is wonderful. Stab it with your fork, put it in your mouth and chew. What about that is hard to understand?" He shot her a withering glare that made her chuckle. "Alright, I'm sorry. I said you're going to flirt with Edith. She clearly likes you and if you turn on the charm I'm sure she'll tell you whatever you want to know. All you have to do is take her out on a date, let her have a nice night and bam, done. She'll open up to you no problem."

"Absolutely not."

"Do you want to find Nocturne or not?" She folded her arms across her chest, daring him to second guess her. He sagged, scowling at his plate.

"Fine. What do I need to do?"

"I'd say drink your wine. And maybe a second glass. If you approach her with that scowl on your face she'll run for the hills."

"I really hate it when you have good ideas," he groaned. Valkyrie beamed.

"I know."

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