Requiem: Chapter Four...
Thank you again to the people reading, seeing the views go up is really encouraging! I have the next chapter up and ready to so here you go guys :)
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Cemetery Road was a strange place. Skulduggery had been right about there being no houses on the street. It stood alone, looking out onto the adjoining graveyard in solemn silence. He pulled the car to a stop and got out, walking round it to hold her door open for her. Her ribs groaned as she got to her feet but the rock had done enough to let her move freely again. She followed quietly, blanket and pillow bundled up under her arm as he opened the door and stepped aside to let her in.
She passed a nice kitchen. It looked brand new, evidence of how little he used it. All the floors were hardwood and polished to a shine. The living room was to the right, with a floor to ceiling book shelf in the alcoves at either side of the chimney breast. The sofa was big and looked comfortable enough to get a good night's sleep on. There was an armchair in the corner with a lamp beside it. She noticed there was no TV in here.
"Would you like some tea?" She nodded and he disappeared into the kitchen as she set the blanket and pillow down and crossed to the shelves, curious to see what kind of books interested an almost four hundred and fifty year old skeleton. She found all sorts. History books, magical texts, even Gordon's book series was on those shelves. She was still inspecting them when he returned with a steaming mug in his gloved hand.
"Thank you," she said as she took it from him. The tea was hot, but sweet. "You have my uncle's books."
"He was a brilliant writer. He had an interesting perspective on my adventures." She nodded.
"He had an interesting perspective on everything. He used to insult people by accident and then laugh when they were surprised."
"He got me into many bar fights doing that." Skulduggery took a seat in the arm chair and Valkyrie saw a book on the table beside him. There was a bookmark in it. She glanced at the title and raised her eyebrows. It was Pride and Prejudice.
"You like romance novels?"
"I have an eclectic taste," he answered. "I appreciate the classics as much as any other book."
"I didn't have you pegged for a romance reader."
"I'm full of surprises."
"I'll say. The nick of time rescues are coming in handy lately."
"One of my many talents."
"You seem pleased with yourself."
"I am exceedingly pleased with myself."
"I'm surprised there's enough room in that skull for your massive ego."
"There's no brain in there. I had to fill it with something." He tapped his knuckles against his head, and the hollow sound it made brought a smile to her lips.
"You're such a goon." He chuckled softly.
"You should sleep. You've had a long day."
"Yeah, getting beaten up twice was not on my to do list." She cocked her head. "Then again, meeting my potential murderer was also not on that list."
"Speaking of shooting you, I was intending on visiting a Sensitive I've known for a while. I'd like to see the vision again. The more information I have, the more likely it is that I'll be able to prevent it. Would you like to come with me?"
"Is it really a good idea for us to be spending time together? Doesn't that increase the chance that you'll blow my brains out?"
"Perhaps. I can leave you with a friend if you'd prefer not to." She thought about it for a few minutes, taking a seat on the sofa as she did. She wanted to distance herself. She could feel herself getting sucked in, dragged towards the inevitable outcome of her death with every minute that passed in his company. And yet she couldn't bring herself to believe that he would willingly kill her. He'd already gone to the trouble of saving her life twice. Perhaps Skulduggery's Sensitive was more powerful than Jordy. Maybe they could see more. Maybe the vision would even change. If it didn't she could distance herself later.
"I'd like to come," she said eventually. "The Sensitive that showed me it isn't a very good one."
"Of course." He inclined his head. "You're awfully calm for somebody that's been attacked twice in one day and now sits in the same room as the man potentially fated to shoot her. I get the sense that you're stronger than you look."
"I don't look strong?"
"You look bruised." He sits forward in his seat, resting his elbows on the chair arms. "What I mean is that you seem well prepared. Have you been training with somebody other than Andromeda? She doesn't seem like much of a fighter." Oh, he was clever. Even Andromeda hadn't picked up on that. "Of course, you'd have to train with somebody in order to harness the power of Necromancy."
"How did you know about that?"
"I saw you blast the Infected as I ran to you. When did you learn you could use both?"
"I did it by accident." She hesitated, unsure of whether to tell him more. But then she figured that since he was destined to get personal enough to shoot her between the eyes, he might as well know. "I was mugged when I was fifteen. A group of boys took my phone and tried to beat me up. I was too scared and too new to it to use elemental magic. They came to hit me and it just sort of...happened. The next thing I new they were all unconscious and I was running away."
"A natural affinity for Necromancy is a powerful thing. Who did you train with?"
"Solomon Wreath."
"Ah."
"You know him?"
"Of course I do. He's insufferable." She knew that if he had a face he'd be scowling. "No sense of humour."
"He is a bit of a fun sponge, now that you mention it."
"A fun sponge?"
"You know, sucks all the joy out of the room?"
"That sounds like him. How did he find you?"
"I found him. I might try to stay out of the magical community as much as I can, but I still have my own contacts here and there. He and I lost touch a year ago."
"Any reason why?"
"He...made an offer that I had to refuse." Skulduggery's head tilted curiously and Valkyrie's cheeks coloured.
"What offer?"
"He asked me out for dinner. I wasn't looking for a magical boyfriend," she shrugged. Skulduggery laughed properly for the first time, and the sound was like music. She marvelled again at how captivating his voice was. It made her wonder how magnetic he must have been before becoming a skeleton.
"I will take great delight in reminding him of that the next time I see him."
"You can't do that," she yelped, her face falling. The skeleton was still laughing.
"Oh don't worry, I'll save it for a special occasion. I won't be letting that particular piece of information slip until the moment is just right."
"You'd embarrass me for your own amusement?"
"Definitely."
"Jerk," she muttered. He chuckled again. She yawned widely and he got to his feet.
"I'll leave you to sleep for now. I won't be far away so call if you need me." He left the room and she marvelled at how silent his steps were before setting up her makeshift bed. The leather smelled nice underneath her, and the cushions were comfortable. It wasn't long before sleep found her.
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She was running. She was running away from...something. No, someone. She could feel the heavy thuds of her feet against the ground but they were soundless. It felt like her eardrums had burst. Nothing reached her, not the sound of her heaving breath or the wind tearing at her face. She was isolated from her surroundings by a roiling grey fog that rose all around her, blocking off the sky.
She dodged as an object materialised in her path, continuing her laboured sprinting until her lungs felt like they might burst. She had to stop. She couldn't keep going. She stumbled, her knees striking the floor roughly as she fell. She sucked in gulps of air, panting into the ground. She was kneeling on tarmac, the same kind she might find on a road.
Fear clenched around her heart as the fog parted and a figure walked towards her. His steps were silent. She looked up from the smart shoes, her eyes roving over the expensive suit until they reached gleaming white skull beneath the wide-rimmed hat. He reached out and touched her cheek tenderly with gloved fingers.
"I'm so sorry, Valkyrie," he said softly. His voice came to her even over the strange silence that blocked her ears. His words were laced with pain and regret. His hand trembled against her skin.
"Please, you don't have to do this. I know you, Skul. I know you don't want this." She reached up to catch his hand, and he knelt down in front of her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into a hug. "I don't want to die."
"I have no choice." A figure moved in the shadows to their right. Tall and dark, impossible to make out any discernible features through that horrible fog. It moved and Skulduggery pulled away. Hot tears tracked their way down her face as he looked over at that figure. He drew his gun and pressed the barrell so gently against her forehead. "I'm so sorry."
"I'm sorry too." Her voice quaked with fear, the words distorting as they escaped from between her quivering lips.
"I wish things could be different. I wish..." The shadow moved again and he stopped speaking. Skulduggery thumbed back the hammer and squeezed the trigger.
oO0Oo
The vision faded with the steam before Valkyrie could see herself die. She was glad, she didn't want to see that. The metal grille on the floor and the coals came into view again, dragging her back to reality. Sound returned to normal. Skulduggery's gaze was trained on her but she couldn't tell what his reaction was. The vision was so different to what Jordy had shown her. His had been a quick glimpse of the moment from a perspective behind the skeleton's shoulder.
"I'm sorry I couldn't see more." Sacrament Ballad stood slowly as he spoke, dark hair falling into his eyes. "My mother was gifted with a much stronger Sight than I.
"That's quite alright. You've shown us much more than we expected," the detective said. "And you are just as gifted as Cassandra was."
"If I see any more I'll contact you."
"Thank you, Sacrament." Skulduggery adjusted his hat and turned to leave. Valkyrie followed on numb legs. In the vision they'd seemed so close, like they knew each other well. She remembered his hand on her cheek, the gentle hug before he'd pulled away. She couldn't imagine being that way with him as she followed him up the stairs and out of the basement. They were practically strangers.
"I think we should stay away from one another," she blurted as they left the shack and headed back to the car. "The vision made us seem like we knew one another really well. I don't think it's a good idea to risk that happening."
"I understand." He didn't say anything else as they climbed into the Bentley and pulled away from Cassandra Pharos's former home. Sacrament watched from the doorway as they left, and she kept her eyes on him in the rear view mirror until she couldn't see him anymore.
"I think we should communicate only when we have to."
"Alright." He tapped his collar bones, the facade flowing over his skull as he turned his head to glance at her. She was surprised to see a slight smile on his face. "Of course, that would require you to actually stay out of trouble this time."
"I didn't ask the Infected to try and kill me," she retorted, smiling as well. The vision weighed heavy in her mind. How could somebody be so tender towards her and then shoot her in cold blood? It didn't make sense.
"I'll take you to your apartment."
"It's already ready?" She was surprised. Last night she'd stayed on his sofa because the mansion wasn't safe. It was barely one in the afternoon and her furniture had been moved into the apartment?
"Teleporters work fast." He hesitated. "I won't be able to keep you safe anymore. It would seem at the moment that I am the biggest danger to you. Whatever led to the events in the vision seemed like it might be personal."
"We were friends. Close friends." She shivered. "How could you shoot someone you care about?"
"Normally I wouldn't," he answered through tight lips. She backtracked quickly, realising how her question must have sounded.
"I didn't mean that I think you would, I was more wondering what I do to make it happen." He relaxed a little. "I can't imagine hurting anyone enough to make them kill me. It didn't seem like you wanted to do it either."
"I think we can avoid all of it by avoiding one another," he answered eventually. "I don't think allowing ourselves to become friendly with one another is a good idea either. That being said, I don't want you to die. How would you feel about a roommate?"
"A...roommate?"
"Somebody to stay in the apartment with you. I have a good friend who's willing to look out for you. It would mean you're protected without having to contact me. If I'm needed I can speak to her instead."
"That would be good, I guess. Weird to live with someone but worth it if it means I don't die."
"Excellent. She's waiting for you there now." They spent the rest of the drive in silence, and Valkyrie got the sense that the skeleton was trying to draw away from her. She was glad that he agreed about keeping his distance. But all the same, she still felt a pang of sadness. He was interesting enough that she wanted to get to know him.
They pulled up outside the apartment and Skulduggery handed her the keys back. The expression on his facade was neutral as he opened the door for her. She got out and he followed her inside and up the stairs. She stepped through the front door to her new home to see a blonde woman lounging on the sofa. She jumped up and held out a hand as they entered.
"Hi there, roomie."
"Valkyrie, this is Tanith Low. She's agreed to protect you until all this blows over."
"Thank you," Valkyrie answered.
"No problem." Tanith had a London accent, and her blonde hair fell in soft curls around her shoulders. She was clad in tight brown leather and Valkyrie got the sense that she had a right hook hard enough to knock off somebody's head. "This place is nicer than my actual home," she chuckled.
"Right then, I'll leave you." Skulduggery's tone was bright as he smiled. He touched Valkyrie's shoulder. "Remember what I said. Stay safe."
"I will. And thanks again for saving my life."
"My pleasure." He tipped his hat to her, flashing one last charming smile, and then he was gone. Valkyrie shut the door, feeling that weird disappointment settle in her gut again. She should be happy he was gone. It meant she was less likely to get shot.
"He has that effect on people," Tanith said casually. She was back on the sofa.
"What effect?" Valkyrie turned to her new friend with a frown.
"Making people want to be around him. It's hard not to like him once you get past the ego." She grinned. "Anyway, enough about him. Since we're gonna be living together we might as well get to know each other. Come sit down." Valkyrie did, looking around the apartment as she did so. Gordon's furniture strangely seemed to fit there. The expensive sofas dominated the space, and her other possessions complemented them, arranged artfully around the room. "You like how I decorated?"
"I love it. It feels like home." And it did. She was happy to be there and not in that empty mansion. "It gets lonely when you're on your own with so much space."
"I bet. Skulduggery said you bought this place because you didn't like living in there anymore."
"I love the mansion but it never felt like mine. I still think of it as Uncle Gordon's house. At least the money he left let me buy this place. I'll never want for anything."
"Doesn't it get boring?"
"What?
"Having all that money. Not needing a job."
"I had a job." Valkyrie smiled. "I worked in a school until the Infected started showing up and attacked my mum. I quit to spend time trying to find out what was happening."
"Brave of you to ditch everything and dive into supernatural crime solving when you've been actively avoiding other mages and seen visions of your death." She was grinning. "It's no wonder you and Skulduggery found each other. In another life you would probably have made a great Arbiter. You two would've been unstoppable."
"Perhaps." Val shrugged. "Not going to happen now though is it?"
"I can't believe you've seen him shoot you. Was it weird?" The blonde woman leaned forward in her seat, tucking her legs up beneath her. Val considered not saying anything, but then she decided to tell Tanith the truth. She was there to protect her, after all.
"The first time I saw it I knew it was him holding the gun even though I couldn't see his face. I was surprised because Uncle Gordon had always said he was a good man, and everything I heard about him backed that up. But I was fully prepared for him to be dirty or something."
"Nah, Skulduggery has way too much pride to be a corrupted Arbiter," she snorted.
"That's what made Sacrament's vision so weird. It seemed like we were friends. He even hugged me. And then he started to say something, thought better of it and shot me." She shrugged. "It's weird to see yourself being so personal towards somebody you barely know."
"I'll bet. Skulduggery doesn't hug anyone." Tanith chewed her lip, her brow furrowing. "Something tells me it's gonna be harder to keep you two apart than you think."
"What do you mean?"
"The future is weird, Val. You can try to do something to change it and that very action might set you on the course that leads you to that future. Or you can do nothing to change it and then it never happens. It's just a feeling I have."
"You feel like me getting shot is inevitable?"
"I didn't say that." She shook her head and brightened suddenly. "Let's talk about something else. Tell me about yourself."
"There's not much to tell really. I was a normal kid until Gordon died and left me everything. In fact I was still normal for a few years after that. I didn't actually visit the house until I was fifteen. I loved my uncle and it was hard to go there and not have him there. His ego could fill the whole place, you know? And he was funny."
"I met him a few times," Tanith said, nodding. "He was fun."
"He was. It took a while to get over losing him, but when I did finally go to the house I went to his study. I was just looking around the place and somehow I discovered the hidden space he had for the Echo Stone. Before I knew what was happening I was looking at my uncle again. He told me about magic so I decided to try it and it worked. After that I started learning and I discovered early on that I had a..." She thought for a second. "Skulduggery called it a natural aptitude for Necromancy. I asked Gordon about it and he put me onto Solomon Wreath."
"Now there's a cheerful person," Tanith said with a wry smile. Valkyrie chuckled.
"He taught me how to control it for a few years." She left out the part where he asked her out and made it awkward. "In that time I met my friend Andromeda. She sensed my aura and sat with me before I knew what was happening. We've been friends since. She introduced me to Jordy who immediately told me he saw me die, and that was that."
"When did you move into the mansion?"
"When I was eighteen. I experienced the Surge and found out I could still practice elementalism and Necromancy. Gordon convinced me to move into the mansion to keep my family safe, so I did."
"Ambidextrous mages are rare. The only other I've heard of was Lord Vile, and even that was just a rumour. I can see why Gordon thought they might be safer if you moved out. I'm surprised you've stayed under the radar for so long."
"I knew when Gordon warned me that making myself known put them at risk. So my only contact with the magical world was the Echo Stone, my two friends and Solomon. I was happy to stay out of it until the Infected started showing up. Andromeda kept talking about it and I kept saying I wasn't interested and then my mum and sister were almost snatched. They ran into a shop to save themselves and the attacker just...disappeared."
"And that's when you turned vigilante on his ass?"
"Pretty much," Valkyrie grinned. "And I'm sure you know the rest."
"I do."
"What about you?"
"Me? Well, I'm an Adept. You could say my ability is dexterity. I can walk on ceilings."
"You can? That's so cool." She stood up and jumped, and Valkyrie watched with wide eyes as she did an impossible flip in the air and landed on the ceiling.
"It's useful in a fight." She flipped again and landed on her feet, tucking herself back onto the sofa. "Who taught you? Skulduggery says you held your own pretty well."
"Mostly online videos. Gordon had a gym in the mansion so I've been able to workout regularly, and I attended a self defence class but nothing major."
"He's asked me to train you up. You up for it?"
"Definitely. I have Vampires and Infected out to kill me, I'll take all the help I can get."
"Awesome. I think I'm gonna like you." The blonde grinned again and Valkyrie couldn't help smiling back. "We'll have to train at the Sanctuary. Can't have mortals seeing us kicking the crap out of one another our way," she winked.
"Won't I run into Skulduggery there?"
"Nah, I'll call him when we're there so he knows to stay away. He's easy enough to get hold of."
"Crap, I left my phone at the house," Valkyrie muttered, realising it was still on the sink in the bathroom. "Andromeda will go mental if I don't call her today."
"Use mine. Do you know the number?" Val nodded. Tanith passed her the mobile and she punched the digits in and waitied.
"Finally!" An's tone was exasperated. "I've called you like seven times. Where are you?"
"I'm in my apartment."
"Your apartment? I thought you weren't moving yet?"
"I had to move it forward." Val hesitated. "I was attacked by Infected at the mansion. Skulduggery thought it best if I didn't stay there anymore."
"What was he doing there?" Her tone was sharp.
"I had to call him or they were going to kill me, An. He was the only one that could get there in time."
"What about me?"
"You don't even drive! I'd have been killed before you even got half way."
"Where is he now?"
"I don't know. Avoiding me." She decided not to mention the new vision they'd seen when visiting Sacrament. "He doesn't want to shoot me anymore than I want to be shot."
"Good. So are you staying at the apartment alone?"
"Actually no. I have a roommate until all this blows over. She's called Tanith."
"Wait a minute..." Andromeda's tone changed to incredulity. "You don't mean Tanith Low?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"The girlfriend of Elder Bespoke? The God Killer? That Tanith?" Valkyrie shot a look at the blonde woman, who simply shrugged and smiled.
"Yeah, that Tanith."
"Oh my God! Her and Skulduggery took down the Grotesquery together! She stopped Erskine Ravel from killing Elder Bespoke!" Andromeda was launching into full on fangirl mode. Valkyrie held the phone away from her ear slightly as she began to squeal.
"You sound insane and she can hear you right now."
"I am not ashamed of being impressed by someone. I feel much better about your safety now."
"I'm glad you do."
"Just make sure you call me often okay? And we'll go for coffee again. And maybe you could bring Tanith."
"Sure, maybe. Bye An."
"Bye!" The line went dead and Valkyrie stared at the phone for a moment.
"So Skulduggery didn't tell me I'd be living with the girlfriend of an Elder," she said slowly. Tanith shrugged.
"Just think of it as being even safer."
"Did you really kill the Grotesquery?"
"Technically Skulduggery killed it. I stabbed it a lot though. It poisoned me so I had a score to settle." Her words were casual but Val could see the pride in her eyes.
"And that scar on Elder Bespoke's neck, that was from when you saved him?"
"Have you heard of Ravel?"
"Yeah. He betrayed the Sanctuary didn't he?"
"He did. He betrayed all of us and he cut Ghastly's throat. If I hadn't found him he'd be dead right now. He almost did die." She brightened fractionally. "Naturally Ghastly fell in love with me."
"Naturally," Valkyrie answered with a grin.
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