A/N: Guess what?
I'm baaaccckkk
I missed all of you :D
So… I kinda fell out with writing for a little bit… I just didn't have the will to do another chapter… BUT one day I checked my emails, and I got a review from someone (you know who you are :D) right out of the blue! They told me that they loved my writing and to continue and that made me conjure up the will to write another chapter of this wonderful story of mine :D
So, remember to review, so I will have the will to write more
(P.S. Like the new pen name? ;D)

I do not own Skulduggery Pleasant, although I enjoy his witty escapades very much so c;

"Well that was easier than I thought," Fletcher said while we were walking out of the ratty apartment buildings. We had just exchanged brief goodbyes with China before walking out of her library with an air of triumph.

"No, I didn't think it would be that hard," I said lightly.

"How come?" Fletcher said, looking down at me.

"She's always been on our side, even when she said she was neutral," I said, "China's good, even though sometimes she does bad things."

I looked over to Skulduggery to see that his wax face was blank. I knew to not push it. What he just did was hard.

I grabbed hold of Fletcher's hand and held my other out for Skulduggery. I looked up at him quizzically when he didn't take it.

"I've got an errand to run," he said without looking at me, "Fletcher, pick her up in the morning and bring her to my place. We still have a lot of stuff to discuss and I want to show Valkyrie some new tricks I've learned."

Before I could say 'okay', we had already teleported and were in my room. The sun was just now setting over the horizon, making the sky take on beautiful hues of orange, pink and purple.

I turned back to Fletcher, who was looking at me with a look on his face.

"What?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips. I could hear the equally-paced steps of the reflection coming up the stairs.

Fletcher came closer, staring into my eyes. I was getting a bit uncomfortable and looked away. I quickly glanced back.

And he kissed me.

It reminded me of hot summer days in Australia when we would get ice cream and nights in Italy where he would get us pizza.

He pulled away. And vanished.

I stood there in a dazed state, trying to process what happened. The squeak of the door pulled me back to my senses. The reflection stood there and I thought I saw a flash of surprise fly across her features before it settled into an indifferent mask.

Must've been a trick of the light.

She asked no questions. Just the same old, "Do you want to resume your life?"

I nodded my head sleepily. Too many things have happened today. I watched as my reflection climbed in the mirror before I put on my jersey and shorts.

I climbed into bed, a thousand things jumbling in my mind. When will the date of the battle be? How can I prevent it? Can I prevent it? Where was Skulduggery and why did Fletcher kiss me? And, as I thought back to one of the earliest visions of Darquesse, how can I save my parents from myself? And, thinking about it, where was Alice when all this happened? I haven't seen her in any visions yet.

I turned over and my stomach rumbled but I ignored it. So many questions unanswered. So many things we were yet to find out. We were still in the dark when the monster is coming at us full speed. I looked at my desk, which still held the dream in which I found out I was Darquesse. I never had the strength to throw it out.

It still whispered to me, but I have learned to shut it out.

I closed my eyes. Sleep was coming, I could feel it. My thoughts became fuzzy and out of reach. My subconscious was taking over.

The dream came.