Hey! Sorry I haven't updated in awhile I just started my new year at school so wasn't focused enough...
But this is a extra-long chapter!
Thank you to the people that have reviewed! Thank you so much! I love knowing what you guys think of my story! :D
R&R (Read and Review) Enjoy!
Chapter 3 Magic
As Valkyrie and Tanith found there way to their classroom. Skulduggery and Ghastly were racing to their class.
"Come on, Ghastly!" Skulduggery called as they ran through the halls every now and then glancing at the map.
Huffs came from behind Skulduggery.
"Just because-huff-your-huff-dead-doesn't-huff-mean-huff" Ghastly gave up finishing that sentence and instead tried to catch up to Skulduggery. A lot of first years were running so Valkyrie and Tanith had moved to the side as they pleated through. They weren't expecting to see Skulduggery bolt down the corridor with a panting Ghastly. "Well, they'er in a rush," Tanith said as she watch Ghastly try and catch up.
"She we stop Ghastly?" Valkyrie asked looking at the now slowing Ghastly.
"He's already stopped." Tanith said then she clamped her hands around her mouth and shouted,"GHASTLY!"
Ghastly spun looking for the person that shouted his name, when his eyes finally focused onto Tanith and Valkyrie, he smiled and started to walk towards them.
Meeting half way Valkyrie and Tanith noticed that Ghastly was still panting.
"Hey, were you headed?" Tanith asked looking at him, Ghastly fished out his timetable and handed it to her. The rest his hands on his bent knees.
"Okay his in our PE and your maths class," Tanith directed at Valkyrie who was watching Ghastly catch his breath, studying the scars all over his head.
"Oh and also you fighting class as well, Damn why couldn't you be in mine, Ghastly?" Ghastly stood finally getting a hold of his breathing.
"I don't think you would like me to kick your butt in front of everyone." Ghastly smiled and raised in eyebrow.
"Hey! I would totally kick your ass!" Tanith said thrusting his timetable into his chest forcing him to stumble back a few steps. He was still smiling when Skulduggery came back around the corner.
"Hey, Ghastly why did you leave me!" Skulduggery called as he made his way to the group. Valkyrie notice that Skulduggery was panting. She looked at him questionably with an eyebrow raised.
"Just decide to talk to people I actually like." Ghastly said his arm hooking around Tanith's shoulders. Skulduggery huffed then started panting. Valkyrie frowned.
Tanith's hand shoot out,"timetable!" She demand, Ghastly smiled as Skulduggery searched his dark green blazer for his timetable.
"What time did you get up?" Skulduggery asked, Tanith looked at Valkyrie.
"I have no idea, maybe seven thirty," Valkyrie said watching as Tanith scanned Skulduggery's timetable.
"Damn! Your with Valkyrie for English, History, Science and fighting!" Tanith said looking up at Skulduggery,"why was Ghastly flowing you when he has Science?" Ghastly looked at Skulduggery. "What?" Ghastly asked glaring at Skulduggery.
"You wanted me to help you be fit," Skulduggery said putting his hands up.
"I already went for a run this morning," Ghastly said the clenched teeth Tanith pulled out of Ghastly's arm grabbing hold of Valkyrie's hand as she said,"Well, we better be off to our magic lesson, have fun guys!" Both girls waved at them, they waved back watching them both go down the corner to their class room.
Valkyrie and Tanith sat down in the back row of the classroom, the desks were a dark brown worn and with single desk joined together. The class room was in a different section to their bedrooms, on the third floor. The class room had windows on the far wall beside Valkyrie. The windows were small and had green and black curtains. At the front of the room was a bigger desk for the teacher, it already had stacks of paper on it, the chair placed behind the desk was cushioned compared to the other ones in the classroom which were wooden. There was a gigantic blackboard that had single smaller ones that could move across the main big one, the big one stretched to the ceiling.
Valkyrie stared at the blackboard. "Wow." Tanith mumbled as she put on a pair of glasses. Valkyrie turned to her study the black framed glass now on the bridge of her nose.
"Tanith I think Valkyrie's a starer," Ravel said coming to sit down next to Tanith, Saracen and Shudder followed sitting in from of Valkyrie and Tanith. Tanith quicker into action taking the three boys timetable, looked up to find Saracen turned completely yo her with his arms crossed on the back of his chair, and Shudder who was sitting side ways leaning against the wall.
Valkyrie stared at Saracen with an eyebrow raised. "Yes?" Valkyrie asked"
"I feel like I've seen you somewhere else…" Saracen murmured, Shudder quicker his chair.
"Don't creep her out man, we just met her," Shudder said smiling.
"Obviously you haven't looked in the mirror." Saracen taunted.
"Yes!" Tanith cheered, fist raised into the air,"I've got you three in most of my classes, including fighting!" The three boys stiffened. As Tanith's smile grew.
"Do you think they'll let us change because of bullying?" Saracen asked Shudder quietly.
"Be a man, Saracen!" Ravel said grinning.
"I'm sorry, can't I stay a immature teenage boy for the rest of my life?" Saracen asked, pouting.
Before Ravel could reply, mr Vigilance came trotting — he was actually trotting — when he placed his briefcase on the worn desk. "Quite down, quite down," Mr Vigilance said turning to the class. All the sits were occupied, as he stood there gazing at them.
Speaking is required for us to learn…
Valkyrie thought, wishing she had the guts to voice her thought.
"Now most of you should know who I am, uh… Yes?" Mr Vigilance had a look of surprise on his face as Tanith put her hand up.
"Ah, sir you do know that everyone had to attend the Dinner last night," Tanith said eyebrow raised.
"Yes, I know that." Mr Vigilance replied look slightly annoyed.
"Then why the stupid introduction?" Erskine asked looking at Mr Vigilance like he was stupid.
Mr Vigilance turned, riffled through his desk full of paper. Valkyrie noticed the slit tremor in his hand.
He's nervous? What about us?
"I did the introduction," Mr Vigilance turned back to the class, leaning on his worn desk with a sheet of paper held in his hands,"because most students go for a doze when i speak, or people forget who I am-"
Huh! I'm sure thats never happened!
"Who would want to be the only student that didn't know who the teacher is."
"That was a very long excuse…" Tanith mumbled to Valkyrie, who nodded quickly trying not to smile.
"Anyways, I'm going to call your names off the role and move on to the theory of magic!" Mr Vigilance ended with a cheer.
Valkyrie was slightly listening to what Mr Vigilance was saying. Writing down notes he was scribbling in his wavy writing. Three students had to ask him what a letter was because it didn't fit right.
Can't we skip theory?
Valkyrie thought for the fiftieth time. "- And that is the difference between Adept and Elemental." Mr Vigilance finished turning to the class. He looked at his wrist. "Okay, next class we'll start working on your magic, first of all, before you leave I want to ask you all what magic you are currently practicing," he looked at a sheet on his desk,"Marshal Admiral?"
A short, stumpy boy raised his hand.
"Adept." The boy's voice ringing through, sound more like a command then an answer.
That explains the name…
Valkyrie zoned out, until a girl with blonde hair sitting right at the front said, "Necromancer." Everyone had gone silent. But it didn't look like the girl was fazed.
The teacher looked at her for a moment. Valkyrie could see his brain working over time.
"Interesting," he said nodding, "but why aren't you at the temple?"
Still unfazed by everyones gaze, she replied simply.
"I was asked to learn from a different aspect."
"Okay," Mr Vigilance said nodding "Valkyrie Cain."
Valkyrie still surprised, jumped when Tanith elbowed her.
"Oh, Um…Elemental."
Mr Vigilance scribbled it down nodding like nothing had happened.
What was her name?
"Tanith Low." Mr Vigilance blade voice cut across her thought.
"Adept." She replied starting to put her belongs together.
"Saracen Rue."
"Adept."
Valkyrie zoned out again only acknowledging some students and some people's choice in power.
Students began whispering among each other, discussing different subjects.
"Wow! A necromancer!" Erskine said surprised "Don't stare." Tanith elbowed Erskine in the ribs.
"Ow!"
"You kinda deserved that." Saracen said, smiling grimly.
"Stop changing sides, Saracen!" Both Tanith and Erskine said. Smiling Valkyrie got up, hoisting her bag onto her back. The bell rang loud and clear bouncing of a few walls.
"What do you guys have know?" Erskine asked shouldering into his bag.
"Oh right" Tanith said excitedly, clapping, "we have History!" She took hold of Saracen's and Erskine's arms pulling the, along. "Do you have History?" Shudder asked, surprising Valkyrie.
"Ah," Valkyrie fished out her timetable,"um, I have English."
With Skulduggery…
Shudder waved goodbye.
Maybe I'll be able to ask him why he keeps 'Fake breathing'.
Valkyrie stopped.
Wait where did 'fake breathing' come from?
Shaking her head, Valkyrie made her way to her English class.
The english room looked exactly the same as her Magic class room. Even the look of weariness on the desks. The only difference was that Tanith wasn't sitting next to her. No Skulduggery Pleasant had elegantly placed himself in the sit beside her, Dexter and Hopeless sitting in front of them. Skulduggery was listening to Dexter and Hopeless argument, of which form of power was better. Valkyrie took the chance to watch Skulduggery, his black hair in a stylish mess.
When Skulduggery had walked in, their eye's found each other in instant. Surprising Valkyrie, but as soon as it happened they both looked away. Valkyrie could still remember his bright dark blue eyes. She could still remember how his eyes were empty of emotion.
"But fire! Fire is pretty! Amazing! They always get the wows!" Hopeless said mimicking fire with his arms and hands.
"That's Skulduggery's line." Dexter said pointing at Hopeless,"there for you argument is invalid, Adept is the best power!"
Hopeless' shoulders slackened in defeat.
"I once saw a man fall to peaces in a river, because he decided to become amun to fire the water dissolved him when he fell in, thats why I didn't choose adept." Valkyrie said joining the argument.
"Ha, see you guy's become easy to kill!" Hopeless said with a smile.
"Well, he was stupid!" Dexter argued "All adepts are stupid!" Hopeless replied.
The argument went on. Valkyrie watched them trying had not to look at Skulduggery. She could feel his eye's on her face.
"Did the man die?" Skulduggery asked quietly.
"What?" Valkyrie asked surprised turning to Skulduggery she let her gaze settle on his shoulder.
"Did the man die?" he repeated.
Valkyrie nodded.
"How old were you?"
Valkyrie gazed flickered up to his.
"Twelve."
"How did it happen?"
"Ummm…"
That's when a plump teacher waddle in and began the lesson. Skulduggery gazed kept flickering to Valkyrie.
I won't tell you anything, unless you answer my questions.
Valkyrie was surprised by the intelligence Skulduggery seemed to have. But by third period where they were doing History in the same room as her Magic class, she was getting annoyed by the stupid questions he was asking.
Mostly because he was asking in stupid riddles or answering with a question, or just making her answer it.
Argh!
"Hmmm, yes, but what if-" Skulduggery began "No!" Valkyrie cut through,"answer the question properly like all the normal people are doing in this room, or I will throw you out this window." Valkyrie pointed to the nearest window.
"Oh thats nice,"Skulduggery replied.
"It's as nice as a threat can be."
"Hmm… I think if you threaten someone with a hug…"
Valkyrie smirked.
No! Do not encourage him!
She frowned. Then a shadow fell over her.
"Hey Skul,' A voice Valkyrie recognised. Looking up she same face to side-of-face with China Sorrows. She had her raven black hair strait, covering her face.
"Hey China," Skulduggery replied looking at her beautiful face.
"You wanna hang out with me." Valkyrie wasn't sure if it was a question or a demand.
"Nah, got my own plans," China frowned, then putting her back to Valkyrie she leant into him, causing Valkyrie to not be able to see Skulduggery.
"Are you sure?" she whispered popping her hip out and gliding her perfect hand down the side of his face, flicking some hair out of his eyes,"once in a lifetime offer."
"Sorry, I can't back out of my own plans," Skulduggery replied not even fazed by what she was doing,"maybe another time."
"I'll take that as a maybe," China said smiling, flicking her finger on his noes. Valkyrie frowned. Valkyrie had noticed her nails were painted pink.
Whats with that?
China than swayed away, back to where her sit was. Valkyrie watched as boys fell over each other, Dexter and Hopeless starred after her opened mouthed. Then slowly they turned, starred at Skulduggery opened mouthed. Valkyrie rolled her eyes.
"Why… why… why… Why?" Dexter said starring in disbelief.
"You could have had her!" Hopeless said looking at Skulduggery as if he were weird.
"You have plans?" Valkyrie asked quietly. She began packing up.
"Yeah, I have plans." Skulduggery answered her.
"What plans!" Dexter asked getting up. The bell had begun ringing.
"Well, I wanted to find out where we're going to hangout."
"You thought that was important!" Hopeless said standing there, going increasingly pale.
As Dexter and Hopeless integrated-argued with Skulduggery, to find out why he didn't agree to hang out with the apparently 'beautiful'China. Valkyrie started towards the door. But she was stopped.
In front of her was China.
Speak of the devil.
But this time she wasn't smiling. This time she was paying attention to Valkyrie.
"Hi," Valkyrie said waving cautiously. China's pale blue eyes glared at her.
"If your just going to glare at me until I go away you're going to have to move." Valkyrie said standing taller than China.
"I don't like you." China started hands on hips. Valkyrie nodded not caring. "If I find out you're in a relation ship with Skul-"
"Whoa!" Valkyrie cut across her,"I'm not in a relation ship with 'skul'."
China smiled at Valkyrie.
"Well, if it dose happen you won't be able to tell the tale."
Valkyrie scoffed as China turned and walked away four girls in tow. Wearing some form of pink.
Huh? Maybe there's a gang of girls following China…
"Hey, you okay?" Skulduggery asked, Dexter and Hopeless looked at her.
"Yeah."
Just a causal threat.
Valkyrie smiled,"Just girl drama.'
Dexter and Hopeless shudder in mock horror and began walking towards the main hall.
"You get Mr Vigil for History?" Valkyrie asked Tanith, they were both walking in the middle of the group 'the dead men'.
"Yeah," Tanith replied with a sigh,"cool nickname for Mr Vigilance."\
"He annoys me." Valkyrie murmured as they cut across the oval.
"Huh, how?" Tanith asked,"What about over there?" Tanith had pointed to a clump of trees, which had seats, yet you could still sit on the ground.
"He's nervous." Valkyrie said speed walking with the rest of the group.
"Yeah," Tanith agreed putting her bag on the ground and following suit. She was holding her skirt so it wouldn't ride up,"He's always surprised by questions."
Valkyrie sat up against one of the trees, Skulduggery sat next to her, Saracen sat on her other side. They all sat forming a circle.
Dexter nudged Ghastly.
"Guess what happened to Skulduggery!"
"He got a detention for being a smart arse," Ghastly guessed.
"Ha, No!" Skulduggery pointed and cheered at Ghastly,"I won the bet!"
"Who said I got a detention?" Ghastly asked "Your face," Skulduggery replied,"or the board in your history room."
"I didn't do it though," Ghastly objected,"it was Tanith!"
"Anyway, anyway," Hopeless cut across.
"Skulduggery had China ask him out!" Dexter said, gulping back air having had been holding his breath before telling the news. Valkyrie had thought he was going to faint.
Ghastly, Saracen, Erskine and Shudder stared at Skulduggery.
"What did you say?" Erskine asked quickly.
"He said yes, of course he would!" Saracen quickly answered, Skulduggery shook his head, as the four boys argued what answered Skulduggery would have made. Valkyrie was surprised to see Shudder in amongst the arguing.
"You said yes didn't you?" Saracen asked looking nervous.
"No," Skulduggery said,"I answered no."
Whats came from all four of their mouths.
"But think of the children!" Erskine said sounding like a girl meeting a boy band.
Valkyrie rolled her eyes, leaning back so she was out of the interrogation.
Fighting.
Fighting.
I get to learn how to fight!
She stood in the gym room, that had been modernised, with Ghastly and Skulduggery standing beside her.
"So liking the Academy?" Ghastly asked.
"Yeah," Valkyrie replied,"It's different, but I differently like the rooms!"
"In the way of us being so closer or?" Skulduggery asked winking at her.
"For someone that doesn't breath you sure have a lot of breath," Valkyrie stead turning to follow the other girls to the lockers.
"They had the locker keys given them yesterday, by the old lady.
Valkyrie looked at her key.
232
When Valkyrie found it, other girls were near it, changing into their new gym cloths.
China was among them.
Valkyrie opened her locker to find black shorts and tracksuits,with a green polo shirt and jumper. Valkyrie got the shorts, shirt and joggers from her bag before locking her stuff away.
She walked towards the bath room and quickly got changed. Putting her school uniform back in her locker.
The whole time she was in there she could feel the cold hard gaze of China glaring at her back.
"All right class!" The to-muscled-to-be-normal teacher boomed. "I'm Miss Dynamic!"
She paused.
For effect…
"Today you won't be fighting."
Groans.
"You will run around the oval every period we have until I see your fit!"
More groans.
"Pick it up!" she boomed again pushing people towards the already open gym door. "Go! Go! Go!"
Valkyrie started jogging. Skulduggery, Ghastly and the newly found Dexter kept up to her. Valkyrie noticed that Skulduggery was a bit on edge.
Great. This period sucks.
Ten!
Valkyrie had given up counting out loud when she had reached the fifth lap. Sweat was dripping of her face like her fellow students. Skulduggery kept dousing water over his head. The water sometimes hitting Valkyrie as she ran next to him.
Ghastly wasn't far behind, Valkyrie was able to hear his heavy breathing. Dexter as well, who was keeping pace with Ghastly.
At first Valkyrie was able to appreciate the temperature and view. The different shades of green in the surrounding gardens with the dark blues of the mountains containing them with in the castle. The temperature consisting of a small breeze coming through messing Skulduggery's hair.
Now Valkyrie was concentrating more on eating her legs to move in a seasonable manner. The breeze was a cold wind to Valkyrie now, every time t came Valkyrie couldn't help but breath it in.
Skulduggery kept at her pace, fast jogging which could last two more laps.
Eleven.
Valkyrie felt a stitch coming on her right sir.
"Argh!" Valkyrie fund that was the only noise she could make to voice her anger.
"Last lap!" Miss Dynamic called from where she sat. Valkyrie had to try not to speed up, knowing if she did she may collapse.
Right. Left. Right. Left. Right.
Valkyrie and Skulduggery were in the lead, they had watched as people collapsed along the way, China among them. Valkyrie heard Ghastly and Dexter pick up speed. So she turned her jogging into a small run. Skulduggery following her, he had glanced questionably at her.
Twelve!
"TWELVE!" Valkyrie shouted, then preceded to collapse on the ground panting.
"Twelve,"Skulduggery whispered face planting beside her.
"Well done, Skulduggery and… Ah..?" Miss Dynamic looked at Valkyrie.
"Valkyrie." Valkyrie panted out.
"Come on you guys," Dexter offered a hand to Valkyrie.
"I must smell horrible," Valkyrie murmured look at her sweaty shirt.
"Well, if you look at it this way, you are the only girl that persisted," Skulduggery said when Ghastly helped him up. Valkyrie looked around to find every girl walking towards the locker room. Except for China, she had her dead cold gaze resting on Valkyrie.
"So," Valkyrie began,"what's with China?"
"She's the hottest girl!" Ghastly said sarcastically with a girly giggle at the end.
"She has this aura to make people like her." Skulduggery said passing a water bottle and a towel to Valkyrie. The water was cold when Valkyrie sculled the contents.
"More like LOVE her!" Dexter said staring after her.
"Well, whatever aura your talking about I haven't seen it." Valkyrie said crossing across the gym to the girls locker room. But she didn't make it.
"Valkyrie! Skulduggery!" Miss Dynamic boomed,"You both can go to your rooms to shower and relax."
Great, now more people will hate me…
"And the rest of you!" Miss Dynamic continued,"If you don't try hard enough next time, I'll make you run around the whole castle!"
Groans
Back in Dublin
As Detective Mellow walked towards the old rankly house. Painted flicked to the ground by disturbances, some of the roof had caved in from the look of the odd shape above the assumed kitchen. Detective Mellow jumped when he heard something scuttle in one of the dark corners.
"They 'ere found this mornin' by some reckless teens'," The mortal officer informed Mellow as they walked towards the crime seen, the officer was overly big and already a copious amount of sweat coming form his forehead, "They've been missin' for a week."
"Who are they?" Mellow asked crouching as he looked at the father of the dead family.
"Smiths." The officer said his voice breaking,"they were good people. Cristian. The kids were a part of the comunit'-" The officer went on about what the family had done. But Mellow chose to ignore him.
He looked at the bodies of the mangled family.
Scorch marks.
Road rashes.
Vomit.
Bruises.
Broken bones and blood.
And the gun.
"-but Phil was a good guy he wouldn' do this to his family." The officer finished.
"Sorry, what?" Mellow asked looking at the fat officer.
"Ah…Phil was a good guy he wouldn't have done this to his family." The officer said slowly looking at the detective.
"What makes you think,'Phil' did this-" Mellow gestured towards the massacred family,"-to his family?"
"Because all four were shot and Phil had the gun and had shot himself…" The officer said sweating nervously, confused and scared by the questions.
"Bullet holes…" Mallow murmured. Detective Optimus walked into the room with a tall pale looking man gliding strangle behind her.
"This is Riot Act,' Optimus introduced.
"Riot Act?" The officer asked," what kinda name is-"
"We need to take the bodies," Mallow cut through talking to Riot. Riot nodded then looked at the officer.
"Come with me," Riot suggested walking the man away.
"Find anything?" Mallow asked Optimus who was looking grim.
"Found this in the girls room." Optimus said holding out a note with gloved hands.
"This isn't their home though."
"Well, it was to make it look like a girl that age-" Optimus gestured to the dead girl,"-the room was dusty and blood on the bed."
"Have you read the note?" Mallow asked not wanting to look at it.
"It said,"Optimus began emotionless,"'To Late'…"
So whatcha think? Bad, horrible, amaze-beans, cake?
Please review and I'll try and write the next chapter up by the end of next week! :P