Chapter Five: Complications
Valkyrie gave a loud battle cry as she threw yet another fireball at Luny, and she caught it with ease. The young mage collapsed on the couch exhausted. It had been almost an hour, and she hadn't even singed a hair on Luny Birds head.
"You block everything!" She gasped in frustration.
Luny smiled as she sat down next to her new friend. "Don't take it too hard Cainy. I'm just more experienced, that's all."
"That makes me feel loads better." Valkyrie said rolling her eyes.
"Well I was a General, so it should make you feel peachy." Luny said her smile growing even larger. "I felt your power with each attack, and it was impressive."
"You were a General?" Valkyrie asked, interested.
"Yep," She replied. "It's where I got my nickname."
Luny crossed her legs, and ran her long fingers through her hair. They really are siblings. Valkyrie thought. She has his long fingers.
"I miss it." Luny said suddenly.
"Miss what?"
"I miss going out on night raids, with Lann and Skully." She said frowning. "We used to have a riot."
Valkyrie could see that Luny was getting depressed by the memory, so she asked, "How did you get your nickname?"
Luny's smile returned immediately,
"I used to go on suicide missions and by my insane skills, and pure dumb luck, I always came back untouched."
She twiddled her thumbs and continued, "In the beginning they called me by my real name; Luna. And then they decided to call me Luna the Insane. But then it changed because Skully constantly called me a loony. And eventually they changed that to Luny Bird the Crazed; and it just stuck."
"You have a unique chosen name Luny." Valkyrie complimented her, patting her arm.
"Thanks Cainy!" Luny said wiggling happily from side to side. "You do too."
Valkyrie blushed slightly and hoped that her companion wouldn't notice. But Luny was thinking of other things.
"So how did you get your name?"
"I had to choose it quickly." Valkyrie admitted. "Skulduggery was in trouble, and China Sorrows wouldn't let me leave. She was using my given name against me, so I chose to pick my name. Valkyrie Cain was satisfying to me, and it took care of China."
"You just doubled your crazy appeal Cainy!" Luny squealed hugging the surprised youth.
"Can't breathe," Valkyrie groaned trying to pull away from the bone crushing hug. "OWWWW! LUNY!"
Luny laughing let go, "I love you so much!"
"Why did you hug me?" Valkyrie asked rubbing her sore body painfully.
"I hate China Sorrows, and for an absolute newbie to diss her so openly is like getting a Christmas present! I love you!" She hugged her again, but gently this time. And Valkyrie hugged her back, shaking her head.
"I guess you and Skulduggery agree on some things. He hates China as well."
"He'd be stupid not to." Luny said seriously. "She was under Mevolent in the war, one of his most trusted followers."
Luny snorted and rolled her eyes, "And I don't care what she claims; once a dark mage, always a dark mage. You can't change so completely in so little time, it stands against all reason. If China Sorrows isn't a dark mage anymore, than I'm a Fairy Princess!"
"You just reminded me of Skulduggery." Valkyrie said smiling at Luny with a new gleam in her eyes. "You two are twins alright."
Luny made a face, "I better quiet than. I don't want to be a boring ole skeleton. Yuck!"
Valkyrie laughed, and stood up from the comfortable couch.
"You ready to continue Luny Bird the Insane?" She asked bowing deeply.
"Sure Cainy! If you think you're up to it?" She replied lifting an eyebrow questioningly.
Valkyrie nodded, and her fingers twitched with anticipation, she was more than ready. She felt the energy flowing all around her and she called to it, summoning it with all of her will power. And she was rewarded when she felt a small light kindle in her outstretched palm.
She smiled at Luny and was about to throw it at her when the door burst open and Ghastly Bespoke came running in.
"We've got to go!" He shouted grabbing Valkyrie's arm and pulling her towards the back door at the other side of the house.
"What's going on?" Valkyrie asked stunned.
"Necromancer. . . . . . Unstoppable." He muttered, continuing to drag her to the door. Valkyrie looked back to see Luny following nonchalantly, whistling to herself again, like nothing out of the normal was happening.
Necromancer? Who could it be? Valkyrie wondered, as they exited the warm house and entered the crisp cool autumn afternoon. Does this have anything to do with the case Skulduggery and Alanna just picked up? Is Skulduggery-
She was stopped mid thought when she saw what stood in front of them. Her stomach churned at the sight, and she found herself asking the question that always nagged at her. Why?
Skulduggery fired his revolver again hitting the target right where its heart should have been. He reloaded it quickly and readied himself for another attack. But the thing didn't move. It was dead.
"Alanna are you alright?" He called to the other side of the parking lot, where she had been fighting herself.
"I'm alright." She called back, appearing with a severed head in her delicate hands.
"New trophy?" He asked eyeing it cautiously.
She ignored his comment and held it up so he could see it clearly. "Look at this Skulduggery. Look at the head."
"What about it?"
"It's a hollow man head." She replied, shaking the head back and forth.
"So it is. But why is this important Alanna?"
"A Necromancer killed Jacobs; and only a Necromancer can summon hollow men." She reasoned quietly. "There is most definitely a connection."
"Indeed." Skulduggery agreed replacing his trusty gun back into its harness. "I think it's time we got back to the house. I've got a bad feeling. I think this was a distraction, to lure us away from Valkyrie." He finished looking at Alanna, who nodded.
Without another word they pushed off from the ground manipulating the air around them, and were flying to the Bentley, hoping that Skulduggery was wrong.